August 7, 2020

12:14 N/A

07 August 2020

DIVISION MEMORANDUM
No. 139 S. 2020

REITERATION ON THE GUIDELINES ON THE REQUIRED HEALTH

STANDARDS IN BASIC EDUCATION OFFICES AND SCHOOLS

TO: OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Chief Education Supervisors
Unit Heads
Education Program Supervisors
Public School District Supervisors
Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned

1. Pursuant to DepEd Order no. 014 s. 2020 on the Guidelines on the Required
Health Standards in Basic Education offices and Schools, the City Schools
Division of Tanauan supports the overall effort of the Philippine government
regarding this public health situation and is committed to safe educational
continuity amidst the challenges of COVID-19.

2. The guidelines and specific interventions are primarily based on the DOH
Administrative Order no. 2020-0015 or the Guidelines on the Risk-Based
Public Health Standards for COVID-19 Mitigation, cited by the IATF to aid all
sectors in all settings to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions.

3. In line with this, all elementary and secondary schools are advised to
implement the following:

a. MEASURES FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND MITIGATION IN

SCHOOLS
i. Routine and Protocols for Health and Safety
1. General Health and Safety Protocols
a. Practice respiratory etiquette and other protective measures
i. Practice physical distancing (at least 1 meter apart) at all
times.
ii. Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub/
disinfectants or by proper handwashing with soap and water.
iii. When sneezing/ coughing, use tissue or inner portion of
Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM
By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 1 of 10
 elbow to cover nose and mouth, and be sure that proper
distance is maintained. Do not cover the mouth with the
hand.
iv. Observe proper use of face masks at all times. Both nose
and mouth must be covered.
1. Those with no symptoms may use cloth/washable face
masks, earloop masks, or face shields, handkerchiefs, or
such protective equipment or any combination thereof,
which can effectively lessen the transmission of COVID-
19.
2. Surgical masks – to be stored in school clinic and
available at the school entrances, shall be reserved for
symptomatic individuals and health care providers.
Individuals who will manifest symptoms shall
immediately be provided with a surgical mask and
brought to the school clinic for checking/ monitoring/
advice; e.g. send home, refer to a hospital/appropriate
health authority, etc.
3. a. Practice proper disposal of tissue and masks after
use.
b. Teachers and personnel, on the first day of their
reporting to school, shall be provided with an
initial orientation on the respiratory etiquette
and other protective measures. It shall be
reiterated that the same measures are expected to
be practiced in other public places, including
when they travel to and from the school, and even
at home should risk factor exist.
c. The school shall ensure availability of hand
soaps/hand sanitizers/alcohol based
solutions/ other disinfectants in restrooms,
classrooms, entrances, etc. by doing routine
monitoring and replacement/ replenishment if
needed.
d. The school shall ensure routine cleaning/
disinfection of frequently touched surfaces
and objects (tables, doorknobs, desks, and
school items) using bleach solution at least

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 2 of 10
 twice a day, (e.g. once in the morning, once in
the afternoon), as well as the routine cleaning and
the replacement of disinfectant solutions in foot
baths. More intensive cleaning and disinfection
shall be done on weekends.

2. Detection and Referral

a. Teachers and personnel, and when applicable, visitors, shall be
subjected to temperature checks using a thermal scanner
prior to entering the school. Those who will have a reading of
37.5◦Celsius or above shall be provided with a surgical face
mask and brought to a private screening area that shall be set
up near the entrance of the school where the concerned
teacher, personnel, or visitor can be further examined, for
appropriate management, intervention, or referral.
b. Entrance to the school of visitors and other external
stakeholders shall be discouraged. Non face-to-face
communications and coordination through available platforms (e.g.
telephone, cellular network, the internet) shall be prioritized.

3. School Activities and Events

a. The schools shall restrict conduct of physical or face-to-face
large gatherings and activities that will require close contact or
where physical distancing may not be possible (teachers’
meeting, parents-teachers meeting, etc.)
b. The Schools shall provide and maximize the use of online
platforms which do not require physical interactions or
congregations for the performance of tasks, including learning
delivery, training and conferences.
c. The schools shall strictly follow General Health and Safety
Protocols (observance of physical distancing, wearing of face
masks and face shields, etc..) during the distribution and
retrieval of modules/activity sheets and home visitation to
learners.

4. School Clinic and Health Services

a. The school, with the support of the concerned DepEd Offices, shall
ensure the establishment/setting-up/refurbishment of a school

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 3 of 10
 clinic to provide basic health services to learners, teachers and
personnel, and when applicable, for visitors, such as:
i. Health assessment and physical examination, as needed,
ii. Appropriate intervention, first aid, or treatment
iii. Proper management of symptoms, including rest at home
iv. Referral and follow up of learners, teachers, and personnel to
appropriate health facilities.
b. Aside from the school clinic, the school also designate:
i. A private screening area near the entrance of the school
where teachers, personnel, and visitors who show symptoms
upon screening at the entrance can be further examined, for
appropriate management and intervention, or referral, and
ii. A separate space where sick teacher and personnel who
have been managed in the clinic can temporarily stay,
awaiting referral to the appropriate health facility, without
creating stigma.
c. In the absence of school health personnel, the school shall
designate (a) Clinic Teacher(s) who shall manage the clinic every
school day, to provide basic health services and facilitate referral as
needed, in close coordination with the school health personnel at
the SDO. Clinic teachers shall be provided prior orientation by
the school health personnel at the SDO for proper guidance on
how to effectively run the school clinic.
d. The school shall ensure that teachers, and personnel who manifest
COVID-19 symptoms shall not physically report to school and
shall seek medical advice- virtual, if possible – as needed.
e. The school shall cooperate with the local health authorities in the
tracing and quarantine of close contacts or confirmed cases of
COVID-19, consistent with DOH guidelines.
f. The school shall ensure that teachers and personnel who have
tested positive for COVID-19 shall not return to school, even if
they are already asymptomatic, unless cleared by medical
authorities.
g. The school clinic shall ensure the availability of Emergency
Health Kits that include PPEs and other needed supplies and
materials. The PPEs should be available for COVID-19 DRRM team
members, health personnel, maintenance and security guards. The
use of PPEs should be guided by the Interim guidelines on the

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 4 of 10
 Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment for COVID-19-04-02
as summarized in the table below:

PPE requirement depending on the nature of the activity:

ACTIVITY REQUIRED PPE
Triage and screening of individuals in Medical mask
points of entry (for personnel in school
entrances)
Caring for suspected case of COVID-19 Medical mask, goggles or face
with no aerosol-generating procedure (for shield, gloves, gown
personnel in school clinics)
Caring for suspected/confirmed cases of Goggles or face shield, respirator
COVID-19 with aerosol-generating (N95 or FFP2), gloves, gown
procedure (for personnel in school
clinics)
Assisting in transporting passengers to a FULL PPE
health facility

Technical Specification of PPE

ITEM TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Medical mask Medical or surgical mask, disposable, earloop, 3-ply, conforms
to EN 14683 rating type standards or equivalent
Goggles Googles or laboratory safety goggles, polycarbonate lens, soft,
flexible, adjustable head strap, anti-fog, conforms to EN 166
standard or equivalent
Face Shield Full face shield, anti-fog, latex-free, one size fits all, soft head
foam, conform stretch band, disposable, conforms to EN 166
standard or equivalent
Gown Examination gown, disposable, non-sterile, SMS/PE coated
polyethylene material, fluid-resistant, solid-front and rear
opening, long sleeved with elastic cuffs, conforms to ASTM
F1671 standards or equivalent

5. DepEd Health and Safety Policies

a. The school shall ensure the operationalization of the Preventive
Alert System in Schools (PASS) for COVID-19 per DepEd
Memorandum no. 15, s. 2020.
b. School Heads shall closely coordinate with the barangay/municipal/

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 5 of 10
 city health offices and the SDOs relative to any resident in the
community who has traveled to and returned from a country/ area
affected by the COVID-19.
c. School heads shall conduct daily monitoring of health status of
personnel, and maintain a record on health status.

6. Schools/ CLCs and DepEd offices shall ensure the establishment/setting-

up/refurbishment of their own clinics for health assessment, provision
of appropriate interventions such as first aid or treatment, and proper
management of symptoms of teachers and personnel, and when applicable,
visitors. Clinics shall ensure provision of referral services and follow up
of status of teachers and personnel in appropriate health facilities.

a. The school shall strengthen the implementation of Deped Task

Force COVID-19 memorandum no. 25 s. 2020, or the minimum
Standards on Social Distancing
b. The school shall develop its School Contingency and Response Plans
for COVID-19.
c. To ensure the effective adoption of the proper hand and respiratory
hygiene and other safety precautions, the school shall strengthen
the implementation of DepEd Order no. 10 s, 2016, or the Policy
and Guidelines for the comprehensive Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene (WASH) in schools (WinS) program.
d. In line with students that link COVID-19 and smoking, the school
shall strictly enforce the ban on smoking/ vaping per DepEd order
no. 48, s. 2016, or the Policy and guidelines on comprehensive
Tobacco Control and DepEd memorandum no. 111, s. 2019
entitled Prohibiting the Use of E-cigarettes and other electronic
Nicotine and Non-nicotine Delivery System and Reiterating the
absolute Tobacco Smoking Ban in Schools and DepEd offices.
DOH quitline: https:// www.facebook.com/DOHQuitlineofficial/
e. The schools are enjoined to communicate with the local
government units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance/implement the
existing law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to
minors or within 100 meters from any point of the perimeter of
the school, or implement stricter measures, if possible, as in DepEd
Task Force COVID-19 memorandum no.39, entitled Strict
Enforcement of Tobacco control policies, Including Smoke-Free and

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 6 of 10
 Vape-free Policies, During Enhanced and General Community
Quarantine. Schools are also warned against partnership with
tobacco companies and NGOs and foundation funded by tobacco
companies.

7. The school shall establish and maintain proper sanitation and hygiene
facilities:
f. Foot bath in all entrances
g. Toilet (with adequate water and soap)
h. Handwashing stations
8. The school shall create and operate a common area where physical
distancing and appropriate prevention measures can be strictly
enforced for accommodating visitors and/or clients.
9. The school shall ensure that the following are sufficiently provided in
its premises:
a. Tissue paper/towel
b. Designated trash bins for tissue disposal
c. Adequate water and soap for handwashing (especially for all
toilet facilities)
d. Hand-sanitizers/alcohol-based solutions/ other disinfectants
in all rooms, entrances, corridors, communal areas, and other
amenities especially eating areas
10. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials
containing the key messages on health and safety shall be displayed in
key strategic areas of the school, such as the school entrances, corridors,
toilets, and other communal areas, or if practicable, distributed to the
learners or personnel for their ready reference. The same IEC materials
shall be shown or provided to visitors who need to enter the school
premises.
11. The school shall ensure that a Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) is
set up for proper waste segregation.
12. The Schools Division Office (SDO) shall set up a hotline/online
platform to provide counseling services to learners, teachers and
personnel who require counseling services. In the absence of an RGC,
learners, teachers and school-based personnel shall be referred to this
platform for counseling services.
a. The school, through its guidance office, shall ensure the
provision of specialized psychosocial support to learners,

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 7 of 10
 teachers and personnel who are confirmed to be positive, under
isolation/ quarantine, and categorized as suspect and probable.
The most appropriate method, which duly considers the safety of
the MHPSS provider, shall be employed. (e.g. provision through
the internet or hotlines).
b. The school shall engage parents, guardians, or any care
providers of learners on taking care of mental health and
creating a positive environment.
c. The school shall ensure strict adherence to Republic Act no.
10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 in the provision of mental
services and referral.
d. The school shall promote “school-life balance” through proper
scheduling of schoolwork that will allow learners to enjoy
quality time at home.
13. Administrative Support
a. The school, with support of concerned DepEd offices, shall
ensure that teaching and non-teaching personnel undergo
annual physical examination, in accordance with the
provisions of RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care act and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations. The conduct of the
physical examination shall be in accordance with precautionary
and protective measures in light of the COVID-19 health
emergency.
b. The school, with the support of concerned DepEd offices, shall
re-establish the regular and safe delivery of essential
services, including, but not limited to:
i. Protection referrals
ii. Specialized services for children with disabilities
iii. School health and nutrition services such as medical
and dental services, school feeding, immunization
program, counseling, and brief tobacco interventions.
c. Guidelines for the delivery of such services shall be issued by the
Bureau of Learner Support Services – School Health Division
(BLSS-SHD).
d. The school shall prioritize to provide alternative
arrangements to teachers, and personnel who are elderly, who
have underlying health conditions, or who are pregnant in the
duration of the COVID-19 event. If alternative arrangements are

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 8 of 10
 not possible, designated areas must be available to high-risk
groups.
e. The school shall ensure that personnel on work from home
arrangement are provided with logistical support, and that
reasonable expenses incurred are covered in accordance with
CSC Memorandum Circular 10, s.2020 and with the DepEd
revised guidelines on implementing alternative work
arrangements to minimize contact in offices and schools.
14. Screening of Returning Personnel and Testing Protocol
a. Screening of Returning Personnel
i. All returning personnel physically reporting to the
school shall be screened for symptoms of COVID-19,
including fever, cough, colds, and other respiratory
symptoms, and/or relevant history of travel or exposure
within the last 14 days. The following should have
happened two (2) days before or within 14 days before or
within 14 days from onset of symptoms of a confirmed or
probable case:
1. Face-to-face contact with a confirmed or probable
case within 1 meter and for more than 15 minutes
2. Direct physical contact with a confirmed case
3. Direct care for a patient with a probable or
confirmed COVID-19 disease without using proper
personal protective equipment
ii. Retuning personnel who are symptomatic with relevant
history of travel/ exposure on the date of reporting to
the school shall not be allowed to physically report to the
school and must consult with their primary care provider.
The use of telemedicine is encouraged for proper care and
coordination.
iii. Returning personnel who were symptomatic with
relevant history of travel/ exposure within the last
fourteen (14) days prior to the date of reporting to the
school shall present the Certificate of Quarantine
Completion duly issued by the step-down care facility or
local health office, whichever is applicable based on the
latest DOH guidelines.
iv. IF asymptomatic within the last fourteen (14) days prior

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 9 of 10
 to the date of physically reporting to school, personnel
without relevant history of travel or exposure can be
allowed to physically return to the school.
v. If asymptomatic within the last fourteen (14) days prior
to the date of physically reporting to school, personnel
with relevant history of travel or exposure can be
cleared to physically return to the school only upon
presentation of a medical certificate issued by local
health authorities such as DepEd school health personnel
or the provincial, city, or municipal health office.
vi. If symptomatic within the last fourteen (14) days prior to
the physically reporting to school, personnel without
relevant history of travel or exposure shall seek
medical advice for proper treatment/intervention and the
issuance of the necessary medical certificate prior to
reporting back to school

15. For inquiries and other concern, please contact Dr. Marianne H. Alcober,
Medical Officer III at 09396355797/ 09665726236. Or email us at
[email protected]

16. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is earnestly desired.

HELEN A. RAMOS
Schools Division Superintendent

Date& Time Posted:_08/12/2020_03:30PM

By: _____________M.M._Huelgas______

DRN:DIVTAN-DM-001-02
Page 10 of 10