Health Secretary Carlos Mellado said Saturday that the Department of Health has not accepted any recommendations to promote the closure of schools in Puerto Rico.
This is after the COVID-19 Surveillance System of the Department of Health issued a document recommending the closure of schools that had resumed face-to-face classes, at least until April 19, after the rise in cases of VOCID -19 on the Island.
“Schools, both public and private, are safe. Schools are constantly monitored by the Surveillance System, and to date, not a single outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported on a school campus,” he said. sustained Mellado in written statements.
According to the Secretary of Health, protocols in schools “are rigorous, educational staff are vaccinated and monitoring is being effective in detecting cases.”
“Therefore, it is not justified to promote the closure of all schools in Puerto Rico. We have even been diligent in disclosing week after week the municipalities with a high level of community transmission and we have promoted strategies focused on minimizing the risks. “, added .
This week, 14 municipalities appear with a high level of transmission, so public and private schools in these villages cannot receive students.
“Our actions are consistent with the data and we will continue to be firm when we have to take steps to safeguard the health of our people, especially our students. It is not time to lower our guard, but it is not time to talk about closing schools. , being this the place in which more protocols we have at the moment “, pointed out Mellado.