Negros Oriental suspends classes amid sore eyes surge

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools across the province on Friday, Aug. 7, due to a reported increase in conjunctivitis, or sore eyes, cases.

The suspension was ordered upon the recommendation of the Integrated Provincial Health Office under Executive Order No. 50, issued Aug. 5, to minimize close-contact exposure among learners, teachers, and school personnel.

Department of Education officials, school administrators, and heads of institutions may adopt appropriate alternative learning methods, conduct makeup classes, or implement other administrative arrangements consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, provided that the health and welfare of learners and personnel remain paramount.

The executive order explained that sore eyes, commonly associated with conjunctival infection or irritation, may spread quickly in school settings because of close physical interaction, shared surfaces, and common facilities.

Sagarbarria said the temporary suspension of classes would reduce person-to-person exposure, allow affected students and personnel to rest and seek medical attention, and give schools adequate time to clean, disinfect, and sanitize classrooms, toilets, corridors, learning materials, and other frequently touched surfaces.

Parents, guardians, learners, teaching and nonteaching personnel, and the public were strongly advised to observe proper hygiene and infection-prevention measures, including frequent hand-washing, avoiding the sharing of personal items, refraining from unnecessary close physical contact, and seeking medical consultation when symptoms of sore eyes appear.

“There is a need to adopt immediate preventive measures, in coordination with concerned local offices and school authorities, in order to protect public health and avoid further spread of infection,” the governor said.

All school heads, administrators, and officials of public and private educational institutions were directed to use the suspension period to clean, disinfect, and sanitize their campuses and facilities, particularly classrooms, offices, restrooms, clinics, handrails, desks, chairs, learning equipment, and other high-contact areas.

The Department of Health-Negros Island Region has received reports of cases but has yet to obtain official figures from local health offices.

The DOH-NIR advised the public to wash their hands properly and avoid touching their eyes.