THE COMMISSION on Higher Education reported that 56 individuals tested positive for Covid19 amid limited face-to-face classes.

CHED said that 41 of those infected were students and 15 were faculty members.

De Vera, however, said that this development is not alarming.

He explained that the number of infections is only about 1% of those who participated in the limited face-to-face classes.

“This is not a cause for concern because less than one percent is very, very low compared with the infection rate [happening] outside the universities,” De Vera said.

“This is safe compared with other activities individuals do,” he added.

De Vera said that the conduct of limited face-to-face classes is essential so that the country can have additional health workers.

“If they don’t do clinical internships, they are at risk of not acquiring needed skills. We have to remember that they are dealing with human lives,” he said.

“Without the clinical internship, they might miss skills and that would put their patients at risk,” he added.