ADB: Full reopening of face-to-face classes to increase COVID-19 death by 8%

Published December 18, 2020 1:39pm
By TED CORDERO, GMA News

The full resumption of face-to-face classes in the first half of 2021 may cause a jump in COVID-19 deaths, according to a study made by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In its “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Face-to-Face Closure of Schools to Control COVID-19 in the Philippines,” the Manila-based multilateral lender said it finds “that fully reopening schools at all levels during January–June 2021 affects total COVID-19 deaths by about 8%.”

“When the new normal is maintained, overall mortality from COVID-19 from school opening is about 1,500 lives nationally, or around an 8% increase from the cumulative value simulated if schools were to remain closed,” the ADB said.

“The average age at which these deaths occur is 63, and this figure represents 0.3% of 2019 mortality in the Philippines,” it added.

The ADB said closing face-to-face schooling only for those over 15 “averts 60% of those deaths, and reduces mortality to about 600 lives, while allowing 78% of learners to attend face-to-face classes.”

SOURCE: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/768532/adb-full-reopening-of-face-to-face-classes-to-increase-covid-19-death-by-8/story/