SCHOOL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF LIMITED FACE TO FACE CLASSES

School Contingency Plan Manual for COVID-19 Resurgences

Purpose of the Manual

This manual shall serve as a guide in crafting and activating their contingency
plan to minimize the impact of a COVID-19 resurgence to the school community. This
shall ensure continuity of learning if a member of the school community becomes a
close contact, suspect, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 case or if a school lockdown
is needed due to resurgence of COVID-19 cases or outside the school. The manual
contains case scenarios that may affect school operations, and the necessary response
of each stakeholder to Prevent, Detect, Isolate, and Treat COVID-19. It also contains
strategies to reintegrate school operations to ensure the safe resumption to face-to-face
classes. The response and strategies in this manual are the minimum requirements for
each school but may be enhanced to be culturally and geographically responsive to the
needs of the community.
It is recommended to view and update the contingency plan regularly, and as
need arises, according to the most recent risks associated with COVID-19 and the latest
guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH).
Note: All the contents of the manual were designed to respond to the complex and
rapidly changing COVID-19 situation at the school setting. However, this may be used
as a basis to craft contingency plans to respond to health-related crises, if in case a
similar scenario occurs in the future.

General Guidelines
If an individual in the school shows symptoms, become a close contact of a
confirmed case, or tests positive for COVID-19, it is critical to have a timely initial
response to ensure little to no spread of the virus among other members of the school
community. There are 3Cs that stakeholders must remember in responding to any
school situation related to COVID-19.
1. Coordinate Tasks
Other members of the school community may feel worried and become uneasy if
any situation related to COVID-19 arises in the school. As means of preparation,
the school head must clearly identify the role of each teaching and non-teaching
personnel and provide necessary training for their actions to be well-coordinated.
The following are the tasks for Response that must be delegated by the school
head:
a. Maintaining safely and health protocols, and order in the classrooms
b. Engaging the parent/guardian on the home-school arrangement, including the
designated time of pick-up of their children, is a need arises
c. Coordinating with local health authorities
d. Preparing the needed resources (e.g. alcohol, face mask, face shield, etc.) to
prevent the transmission of COVID-19

2. Collect Information

To assist health authorities and the local government unit in contact tracing, the
immediate responding health personnel or designated clinic teacher must collect
the following information of the individual who shows symptoms or is reported to
be a close contact of a confirmation case.

a. Who: name of individual gender, age, grade level or occupation, section

included in or handling.
b. When: date, if in school (i) time of entry to school, (ii) time of isolation in the
clinic, if at home (iii) time of report
c. Where: school name, school address, home address of individual (if at home
during the time of report)
d. What: symptoms experienced by the individual (if any)
e. How: details on where or how the individual was infected, or who is the
confirmed case to whom the individual became a close contact.

3. Contact authorities, other school personnel and families

All concerned stakeholders must be well-informed to avoid the possible

transmission of the virus, and to guide the school community in the necessary
actions in case there will be a need to transition to distance learning modality.

a. Contact the identified health authority (e.g. barangay health station, rural
health unit) to cooperate regarding the appropriate measures such as tracing
and quarantine, or referral to a hospital if needed.
 b. Contact other school personnel (from the different set of classes per week) in
case there will be a need to shift to distance learning modality. A teacher
must also be informed and guided if he/she shall be a substitute teacher in
case a fellow teacher becomes unable to physically report to school for a long
period due to being infected with COVID-19 or other acceptable reasons.
c. Contact the family of the individual who showed symptoms or identified to be
a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19. The family must also be
informed regarding the actions that will be undertaken by the school, as well
as the protocols that must be observed at home as advised by the health
authorities.
d. Contact the families of individuals from the same classes as the person who
showed symptoms of COVID-19 and inform them of the protocols that must
be observed, as well as the possible shift to distance learning modality.
e. Contact families from other classes from the set of classes in the same week
as the person who showed symptoms of COVID-19, as well as those from the
set of classes on the other week to inform them of the current situation.

SPECIFIC SCENARIOS
The scenarios specify those that many affect the school setting. Recognizing the
shared responsibility of each stakeholder in preventing the transmission of the virus, the
actions that must be undertaken by the school to coordinate with each stakeholder are
listed in each scenario.
Scenario 1 A household member of learner or school personnel shows
symptoms of COVID-19 but has not been tested. The learner
or personnel is not showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Scenario 2 Household member of learner or school personnel is a
confirmed case COVID-19. The learners or personnel is not
showing of symptoms of COVID-19.
Scenario 3 Learner or school personnel is identified to be a close contact
of confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of their household. The
learner or personnel is not showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Scenario 4 Learner or school personnel shows symptoms of COVID-19
but is not known to be a close contact with a confirmed case.
Scenario 5 Learner or school personnel shows symptoms of COVID-19
and is a close contact of a confirmed case.
Scenario 6 Learner or school personnel who has symptoms test negative
for COVID-19 and is not known to be in a close contact with a
confirmed case.
Scenario 7 Learner or school personnel who has symptoms tests negative
for COVID-19 but is known to be in close contact with a
confirmed case.
Scenario 8 Learner or school personnel tests positive for COVID-19.
Scenario 9 There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside the school.
 There are no known close contacts in the school. A granular
lockdown in the barangay was announced by the LGU.
Scenario 10 There is a high resurgence of COVID-19 in an adjacent
barangay. The affected barangay is known to be frequented by
members of the barangay where the school is located.
Scenario 11 There is a resurgence of COVID-19 in multiple barangays in
the municipality where the school is located, and there is a
change in the risk classification of the municipality. The
barangay where the school is located is not adjacent to the
barangays with COVID-10 resurgence. There are no known
cases in the specific barangay of the school.

Scenario 1. Household member of learner or school personnel shows symptoms

of COVID-19 but has not been tested. The learner or personnel is not showing
symptoms of COVID-19.

Involved Stakeholder Required Action

Household member  Prior to the implementation of face-to-face classes,

showing symptoms parents/guardians of learners, as well as school
personnel, shall be oriented to immediately inform the
school of any of their household members experience
COVID-19 symptoms. They shall then be responsible of
informing their household members regarding the
protocol.
 If a household member of a learner/ personnel showing
symptoms of COVID-19 informs the school regarding
their condition and has not yet been tested, the school
may advise him/her to seek assistance form BHERT.
Learner or personnel  Since the learner of personnel may be considered a close
in the same household contact, the school shall advise the learner or the
concerned personnel to remain/return home and to-self
monitor at home until the results of the available COVID-
19 test has been released.
 If the identified close contact is a learner, provide
appropriate support for a temporary shift to distance
learning modality while waiting for the COVID-19 test
result.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, identify the
substitute teacher who will temporarily conduct distance
learning among the learners that the teacher is handling,
while waiting for the COVID-19 test result.
Learner or personnel  Since the learner of personnel may be considered a close
in the same household contact, the school shall advise the learner or the
 concerned personnel to remain/return home and to self-
monitor at home until the results of the available COVID-
19 test has been released.
 If the identified close contact is a learner, provide
appropriate support for a temporary shift to distance
learning modality while waiting for the COVID-19 test
result.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, identify the
substitute teacher who will temporarily conduct distance
learning among the learners that the teacher is handling,
while waiting for the COVID-19 test result.
Learners or personnel  Provided that there is no confirmed case or close contact
in the same class and in the school, the school shall allow other learners and
week as the exposed personnel to attend face-to-face classes.
person  If the identified close contact is a teacher, only the class
that the teacher is handling will be temporarily shifted
back to distance learning until the teacher is allowed to
return to school. The school shall inform
parents/guardians of learners in the class regarding the
situation and the temporary shift in the learning modality.
Other household  If the close contact in the school is a learner, the school
members shall engage other household members regarding the
home school arrangement, including the time of pick-up
of the learner (if in school at the time the information was
communicated).
 Note: They shall be informed by the LGU to self-monitor
at home until the results of the available COVID-19 test
has been released. The school is not required to give
advice to other household members.
 If the household member test positive and the exposed learner or personnel does
not show symptoms, refer to Scenario 2.
 If the household member tests negative and the exposed learners or personnel
shows symptoms, refer to Scenario 4.
 If the household member tests positive and the exposed learner or personnel
shows symptoms, refer to Scenario 5.

Scenario 2. Household member of learner or school personnel is a confirmed

case of COVID-19. The learner or personnel is not showing symptoms of COVID-
19.
Involved Stakeholder Required Action
Household member  Prior to the implementation of face-to-face classes,
showing symptoms parents/guardians of learners, as well as school
personnel, shall be oriented to immediately inform the
school if any of their household members experience
 COVID-19 symptoms. They shall then be responsible of
informing their household members regarding the
protocol.
Exposed learner or  Collect the necessary information regarding the close
personnel contact
 Record the actions the school has undertaken (for
reference for the contract tracing team of the LGU).
 Advise the learner or personnel to return/remain at home.
 Advise the asymptomatic close contact of the suspect,
probable, or confirmed cases to immediately quarantine
and complete it for 14 days, regardless of testing has not
been done, or resulted negative.
 Ensure that the learner or personnel has completed the
fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of negative test
result and vaccination status, before allowing him/her to
return to school.
 If the identified close contact is a learner, provide
appropriate support for a shift to distance learning
modality for fourteen (14) days. This may include
psychosocial support, if needed.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, identify the
substitute teacher who will conduct distance learning
among the learners that the teacher is handling. The
school may provide psychosocial support to the affected
teacher, if needed.
Learners or personnel  Since there is a close contact but not confirmed case in
in the same class and the school, the school shall allow them to attend face-to-
week as the exposed face classes after a 24-hour lockdown for disinfection of
person the school premises.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, only the class
that the teacher is handling will be shifted back to
distance until the teacher will complete the quarantine
period. The school shall inform parents/guardians of the
learners in the class regarding the situation and the shift
in learning modality for fourteen (14days) days.
 If necessary, the school shall provide psychosocial
support to the learners and shifted back to distance
learning or to any other school member whose mental
health was affected by the situation.
Other household  If the close contact in the school is a learner, the school
members shall engage other household members regarding the
home-school arrangement, including the time of pick-up
of the learner (if in school at the time the information was
communicated).
 Note: They shall be informed by the LGU to complete the
 fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of negative
result and vaccination status, before allowed to return to
school or workplace. The school is not required to give
advice to other household members.
 If the exposed learner or personnel shows symptoms during quarantine and has
not been tested, refer to Scenario 5.

Scenario 3. Learner or school personnel is identified to be a close contact of

confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of their household. The learner or personnel
is not showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Involved Stakeholder Required Action
Exposed learner or  Collect the necessary information regarding the close
personnel contact.
 Record the actions of the school has undertaken (for
reference of the contact tracing team of the LGU).
 Advise the learner or personnel to return/remain at home
 Advise the asymptomatic close contact of the suspect,
probable, or confirmed cases to immediately quarantine
and complete it for fourteen (14) days, regardless of
testing has not been done, or result negative.
 Ensure that the learner or personnel has completed the
fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of negative
result and vaccination status, before allowing him/her to
return to school.
 If the identified close contact is a learner, provide
appropriate support for a shift to distance learning
modality for fourteen (14) day. This may include
psychosocial support, if needed.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, identify the
substitute teacher who will conduct distance learning
among the learners that the teacher is handling. The
school may provide psychosocial support to the affected
teacher, if needed.
Learner or personnel  Since there is a close contact but not confirmed case in
in the same class the school, the school shall allow them to attend face-to-
week as the exposed face classes after a 24-hour lockdown for disinfection of
person the school premises.
 If the identified close contact is a teacher, only the class
that the teacher is handling will be shifted back to
distance learning until the teacher completes the
quarantine period. The school shall inform
parents/guardians of learners in the class regarding the
situation and the shift in learning modality for two (2)
weeks.
  If necessary, the school shall provide psychosocial
support to the learners who were shifted back to distance
learning or to any other school member whose mental
health was affected by the situation.
Household members  If the close contact in the school is a learner, the school
engage other household members regarding the home-
school arrangement, including the time of pick-up of the
learner (if in school at the same time the information was
communicated).
 Note: The LGU shall inform them if they are also
identified as close contacts. If not a close contact, they
may continue attending school or going to their workplace
without a need for quarantine. If they are also identified
as close contact, they shall be informed by the LGU to
complete the fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of
negative test result and vaccination status, before
allowing them to return to school or workplace. The
school is not required to give advice to other household
members.
 If the exposed learner or personnel shows symptoms during quarantine and
has not been tested, refer to Scenario 5.

Scenario 4. Learner or personnel shows symptoms of COVID-19 but is not known

to be a close contact with a confirmed case.
Involved Stakeholder Required Action
Person showing If the person showing symptoms is in school:
symptoms  Assist the learner or personnel to the designated isolation
room in the school.
 Following precautionary measures, provide the
necessary emergency care.
 Collect the necessary information regarding the person
showing symptoms, as well as his/her close contacts in
school.
If the person showing symptoms at home:
 Advise the learner or person to remain at home.
 Collect the necessary information regarding the person
showing symptoms, as well as his/her close contacts in
school.
 If a learner is showing symptoms, provide appropriate
support for a transition to distance learning modality to
ensure continuity of learning, until he/she cleared to
return to school. This may include psychosocial support,
if needed.
 If a teacher is showing symptoms, identify the substitute
 teacher who will conduct distance learning among the
learners that the teacher is handling, until the affected
teacher is cleared to return to school. The school may
provide psychosocial support to the affected teacher, if
needed.
 Ensure that the learner or personnel strictly follows the
advice of local health authorities especially on the
required number of days of isolation.
 For asymptomatic: Ten (10) day isolation have passed
from the foist viral diagnostic test and remained
asymptomatic through their function.
 For mild to moderate COVID-19 confirmed cases. Ten
(10) day isolation have passed form the onset of the first
symptom, respiratory symptoms have improved (cough,
shortness of breath), and have been afebrile for at least
24 hours without use of antipyretic medications.
 For severe and critical COVID-19 confirmed cases.
Twenty-one (21) day isolation has passed from the onset
of the first symptom, respiratory symptoms have
improved (cough, shortness of breath) and have been
afebrile for at least 24 hours without the use of antipyretic
medications.
 For immunocompromised, do RT-PCR testing on the
1oth day. If the RT-PCR test results turn our positive,
refer to infectious Disease Specialist. If RT-PCR test
results turn out negative, discharge from isolation.
 Medical certification or repeat testing is not necessary for
the safe return to school of immunocompetent
individuals, provided that a licensed medical doctor
certifies or clears the patient. He/she shall be advised to
isolate at home or in an isolation facility until the COVID-
19 test results has been released.
Local health authority  Coordinate with local health authorities for evaluation of
the person showing symptoms, contact tracing activities
and referral to a healthy facility, if the need arises.
Exposed learners or  Advise the asymptomatic close contact of the suspect,
personnel (from the probable, or confirmed cases to immediately quarantine
same class as the and complete it for 14 days, regardless of testing has not
person showing been done, or resulted negative.
symptoms)  Since the teacher will be considered a close contact if a
learner in his/her class shows symptoms, identify the
substitute teacher who will conduct distance learning
among the learners that the teacher is handling for
fourteen (14) days. The school may provide psychosocial
support to the affected teacher, if needed.
 Inform parents/guardians of learners in the class
 regarding the situation and the shift in learning modality
for two (2) weeks.
 For learner, provide appropriate support for a shift to
distance learning modality for fourteen (14) day. This may
be included psychosocial support, if needed.
 Ensure that the learner or personnel has completed the
fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of negative test
result and vaccination status, before allowing him/her to
return to school.
Other learners and  If the person showing symptoms tests negative for
personnel COVID-19, the school shall allow other learners or
personnel from the week to attend face-to-face classes
without completing
Household member of  If the person showing symptoms in the school is learner,
the person showing the school inform the household members regarding the
symptoms condition of the learner and the actions undertaken by the
school (e.g. providing emergency care, referring to the
local health authority). The local health authority shall be
responsible for coordinating with the household member
if the learner should be isolated at home or in an isolation
facility.
 Note: They shall be informed by the LGU to complete the
fourteen (14) day quarantine, regardless of negative
result and vaccination status, before allowed to return to
school or workplace. The school is not required to give
advice to other household members.
 If the learner or personnel showing symptoms test negative for COVID-19, refer to
Scenario 6.
 If the learner or personnel showing symptoms tests positive for COVID-19, refer to
Scenario 8.

Scenario 5. Learner or school personnel shows symptoms of COVID-19 and is a close

contact of a confirmed case.
Involved Stakeholder Required Action
All stakeholders  Even if there is no confirmed case, the school shall
declare a lockdown as a precautionary measure since
the person showing symptoms is a close contact of a
conformed case. The school shall inform all
stakeholders regarding the situation and decision to
undergo a lockdown.
Person showing  If the person showing is in school:
symptoms - Assist the learner or personnel to the designated
isolation room in the school.
- Following the precautionary measures, provide the
 necessary emergency care.
- Collect the necessary information regarding the
person showing symptoms, as weel as his/her close
contacts in school.

If the person showing symptoms is at home:

-Advise the learner or personnel to remain at home.
- Collect the necessary information regarding the person
showing symptoms, as well as his/her close contacts in
school.
 If a learner is showing symptoms, provide appropriate
support for a transition to distance learning modality to
ensure continuity of learning, until he/she cleared to
return the school. This may include psychosocial
support, if needed.

 If a teacher is showing symptoms, identify the substitute

Strategies to Transition back to Face-To-Face Learning Modality

During a school lockdown, it is important to continue engaging learners in
meaningful activities to ensure the continuity of learning. However, some learners or
school personnel may need additional support in transitioning back to distance learning
and managing their emotions after learning about the situation in the school or in the
community. During this period, the support from the family and other school personnel
shall play a critical role in adapting to the change in environment and coping with the
resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
1. The school local hotline/help desk shall remain open for parents/guardians in
need of assistance in the distance learning of their children. Teachers may utilize
this platform to encourage parents/guardians in their role as learning facilitators
at home and to provide additional support to learners in their independent study.

2. The school shall establish a cleaning and maintenance routine to ensure that all
school facilities are organized and functional until the resumption of face-to-face
classes.

3. The school may perform critical administrative tasks on-site provided that they
are given permission by the LGU.
 4. The school shall provide the required personnel protective equipment to non-
teaching personnel who shall weekly conduct the cleaning and maintenance
routine of the school, and those who will need to perform administrative duties
whenever necessary. The school shall ensure that they will be properly
compensated for physically reporting to school during the school lockdown.

5. The guidance office shall remain operational to ensure that psychosocial support
and services shall be made available for all the members of the school
community. In the absence of a guidance office, affected learners and school
personnel shall be provided with Psychological First Aid (PFA) by trained
teaching and non-teaching personnel in schools. They shall also be assisted for
referral to the counselling services provided by the School Division Office if
further interventions are needed.

6. The school shall provide the appropriate support needed by the non-teaching
personnel; while they are unable to physically report to school daily.

7. After the school lockdown, the school shall seek the consent of
parents/guardians through a written form for the participation of their children in
the resumption of face-to-face classes.

8. For the first five school days, the first hour shall be devoted to
discussion/facilitation of modules related to mental health, facilitated by their
respective classroom advisers or designated teachers.

References: