Is Distance Learning totally risk-free from COVID-19?

Nazario P. Lumbang

As the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise during this pandemic, Deped has shifted to distance learning, a mode of education that doesn’t require a face-to-face interaction between the teacher and the student.

This mode of education can be either modular distance learning with the use of printed materials, online distance learning with the use of gadgets and the internet, or TV/Radio-based instruction.

Distance learning education is safer than face-toface type of learning since it minimizes the physical interaction between the teacher and the students. However, the health concern in this type of learning lies within the question-Is distance learning totally free from the risk of COVID-19?

In modular distance learning, printed materials or modules, which are crafted by some teachers and authors, will be delivered to the household by the teachers or through Local Government Officials. This type of learning however, although minimal, still poses a health risk since physical interaction will occur during the delivery of the learning materials.

According to several studies, SARS-CoV-2, the virus which caused the COVID-19 pandemic, can remain viable and infectious for hours in air, and for days on surfaces (Van Doremalen et al., 2020). Also, according to New England Journal of Medicine, the viability of the virus on plastic is up to 3-7 days, 3 hrs on printed paper, and 24 hours on cardboard. With these information cited from several studies, it is possible that virus transmissions can occur during delivery of the learning materials. This risk poses a threat on the health of the teachers and students, together with their families and all of the people involved in the delivery.

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The author is Master Teacher I at San Nicolas

Elementary School