Schools in the Philippine capital Manila were ordered Friday to suspend online classes for a week, as an Omicron-driven record surge in infections ravages the metropolis of 13 million, according to AFP.

The order for schools in the capital to suspend online lessons until January 22 was to “ease the health burden” for teachers and students, the regional Department of Education said in a memorandum.

Thousands of teachers and students have been infected with Covid-19, according to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, which has welcomed the “health break”.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
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Rough waters

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Politicised football
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Politicised football

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A few good men
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