Enclosure No. 5. DepEd Memorandum No. 15, s. 2020
a. General Precautions
- DepEd reiterates its earlier directives for the strict observance of precautions recommended by DOH and WHO to reduce the general risk of transmission of respiratory infection, specifically, proper hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices. Proper hand hygiene is needed to minimize the risk of transmission through touching any contaminated object, material or surface; the respiratory hygiene is needed to reduce the risk of spreading the virus by an infected individual; and the safe food practices is to reduce risk of exposure to or ingestion of contaminated food.
- The following proper hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices, and related precautions are enjoined:
- Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
- When coughing and sneezing, maintain distance and cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away into a closed bin immediately and wash hands;
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
- When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
- The consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices; and
- Within healthcare facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments.
- Airflow in classrooms should be improved by opening windows and doors as much as possible.
b. When Respiratory Symptoms Occur
Wearing of medical mask is indicated for an individual exhibiting or feeling symptoms of respiratory infections. The medical mask is intended to contain respiratory secretions. Thus, it should be worn as much as possible. The individual should also clean his or her hands immediately after contact with his or her own respiratory secretions.
c. Wearing of Medical Mask
a. Wearing of medical mask is indicated for an individual exhibiting or feeling symptoms of respiratory infections, in order to contain respiratory secretions.
b. WHO, in its advice on the use of masks, states that a medical mask is not required for non-sick persons. However, in crowded places where one is unsure of any possible exposure, masks may be resorted to.
c. In using masks, best practices should be followed on how to wear, remove, and dispose of them and on hand hygiene action after removal. WHO provides guidelines in the use of masks:
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- If medical masks are worn, appropriate use and disposal are essential to ensure they are effective and to avoid any increase in risk of transmission associated with the incorrect use and disposal of masks.
- The following information on correct use of medical masks derives from the practices in health-care settings:
- place mask carefully to cover mouth and nose, and tie securely to minimize any gaps between the face and the mask; while in use, avoid touching the mask;
- while in use, avoid touching the mask;
- remove the mask by using appropriate technique (i.e. do not touch the front but remove the lace from behind);
- after removal or whenever you inadvertently touch a used mask, clean hands by using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water if visibly soiled
- replace masks with a new clean, dry mask as soon as they become damp/humid;
- do not re-use single-use masks;
- discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them
immediately upon removal. - Cloth (e.g. cotton or gauze) masks are not recommended under any circumstance.