405 health workers in PH currently battling COVID-19; total infections climb to 5,096 | ABS-CBN

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405 health workers in PH currently battling COVID-19; total infections climb to 5,096

405 health workers in PH currently battling COVID-19; total infections climb to 5,096

Kristine Sabillo,

ABS-CBN News

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Midwives monitor patients at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center OB-Gyne ward on May 8, 2020. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippines' health department said 405 health workers in the country are currently infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), accounting for nearly 8 percent of the total cases among the sector.

In its COVID-19 situationer report released Monday, the Department of Health said the total number of coronavirus infections among health workers in the country has climbed to 5,096, as of Aug. 2.

This is 5% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, which was at 103,104 that day.

According to the report, 4,652 or 91.3 percent of the infected health workers have already recovered, while 39 or 0.8 percent succumbed to the disease.

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Of the active cases, 66.2% are mild cases, and 33.1% are asymptomatic. There are 2 health workers with severe symptoms, and 1 under critical condition.

The infected health workers include 1,734 nurses, 1,100 doctors, 338 nursing assistants, 210 medical technologists, 119 radiologic technologists, 92 midwives, 43 respiratory therapists, and 41 pharmacists.

There were also non-medical staff from health facilities infected with the disease: 407 administrative staff, 161 utility personnel, 73 dietary staff, 64 drivers, 50 barangay health workers, 37 security guards and 15 caregivers.

Health workers have been making headlines in recent weeks as some have resorted to silent protests due to overwork and safety concerns caused by the continued increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Medical societies also called on the government to implement stricter quarantine measures to give hospitals time to prepare for the rising number of patients.

On Tuesday, the DOH reported a record-high of 6,352 additional COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed coronavirus infections to 112,593.

The active cases stood at 44,429, of which, 0.6 percent are in critical condition, 0.8 percent are severe, 7.5 percent are asymptomatic, and 91.2 percent are mild cases.

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Nation

House OKs on 2nd reading a bill amending the K-12 basic education program

House OKs on 2nd reading a bill amending the K-12 basic education program

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

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Despite being affected by super typhoon Carina and Habagat, teachers and parents at Bagong Silangan Elementery School in Quezon City clean classroom, paints arm chairs and prepare the classroom on Sunday, July 28, 2024, a day before the first day of School Year 2024-2025 tomorrow July 29. Maria Tan ABS-CBN News/FileDespite being affected by super typhoon Carina and Habagat, teachers and parents at Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City clean classroom, paints arm chairs and prepare the classroom on Sunday, July 28, 2024, a day before the first day of School Year 2024-2025 tomorrow July 29. Maria Tan ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A bill seeking to amend the K to 12 basic education program and allow students to choose from two education pathways after graduating from Grade 10 or 4th year high school has been approved on second reading by the House of Representatives.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, House Bill 11213 or the proposed Education Pathways Act was approved via viva voce or voice voting.

The measure proposes to give students, who completed junior high school, the option of taking either the two-year University Preparatory Program if they intend to pursue college education, or the Technical Vocational Program. It also provides for an advanced placement exam, which Grade 10 students may voluntarily take, and if passed, will give them eligibility to enroll in their chosen college degree the following school year, without having to complete Grades 11 and 12 under the University Preparatory Program.

“We will graduate students at Grade 10. Those who wish to pursue university or college, will have to go through Grades 11 and 12. But Grades 11 and 12 will no longer have strands or tracks. All the mandatory subjects will all be the general subjects in first year college. So that the student, who wishes to pursue his college degree will already be able to get advanced placement examinations and credit those subjects, and hopefully reduce the number of years in college by one year or at least one semester,” House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairperson and Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo explained.

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“Sa Grade 10 po ay magbibigay na rin tayo ng honors exam. Lahat ng papasa ng honors exam na gustong pumunta ng kolehiyo, ‘pag pumasa ka ng honors exam, accelerated ka na, exempt ka na sa Grades 11 and 12, and you can go straight to first year college,” he added.

“For those who wish to use the tech-voc track, 30% of Filipinos right now use the tech-voc track, we will ask that they be under the TESDA, but with an industry driven curriculum, meaning it is enterprise-based immediately,” Romulo noted.

Proponents of the bill had said that the K-12 program failed to deliver on its promise to produce “job-ready” graduates. Some parents also complained of the expenses for the two years added to basic education under the current curriculum.

“The reality of the job the market has not aligned with these expectations… Many senior high school graduates face challenges in finding employment, as the private sector continue to favor students and graduates of colleges and universities, over those who have solely completed the K-12 program,” Romulo said.

“We’ve learned now from the many years that it’s been carried out about all of the failings of the implementation,” Pampanga 2nd District Representative and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who co-sponsored the bill, also said.

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