Covid-19: VP assures parents of safety in schools

Debra Matabvu
Sunday Mail Reporter

GOVERNMENT has intensified surveillance in schools in order to monitor Covid-19 outbreaks, with learning institutions that fail to implement standard operating procedures facing immediate closure.

In a statement yesterday, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga, offered assurance to parents that the situation in schools was under control.

This comes after St David’s Bonda Girls High in Manicaland province reported an outbreak of the coronavirus which infected 122 pupils last week. “The Ministry of Health and Child Care would like to reassure the public and parents of the infected and affected learners that these outbreaks are under control and that measures have been put in place to curb further spread of the disease,” said Dr Chiwenga.

“Following up on the last Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the Government had indicated that those schools who break COVID-19 regulations will be shut down.

“The Government will not hesitate to act upon these measures.

“Government will implement targeted lockdowns for schools that do not follow the Covid-19 regulations.

“Once again, the strong Covid-19 surveillance system that the Government has put in place in schools has enabled the Ministry of Health and Child Care to detect outbreaks early and control them in a timely fashion and hence prevent the spread of Covid-19 to surrounding communities.”

Separately, Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema said parents should report all suspected cases of Covid-19 among pupils to school authorities.

In a statement, Minister Mathema said it was the duty of every family to work with school authorities and health officials.

“The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon Cain Mathema, is appealing and urging parents and guardians to work with their school heads.

“The Minister is also urging parents to inform the school heads of any developments or signs that the child is not well.

“The Minister is also appealing and urging parents to report to the school heads of any relatives showing signs of Covid-19.

“The fight against Covid-19 in schools, whether boarding or day, require the full participation of parents and all families.

“It is not a crime that we report signs of Covid-19.

“No school alone can fight Covid19.”

Anglican church Manicaland diocesan registrar Mr Ashel Mutungura said the situation at St David’s was under control.

“We had 122 pupils test positive for Covid-19 last week after one of the pupils who had gone to routine checkup at the mission tested positive,” he said.

“The Ministry of Health then did contact tracing on Thursday and 117 pupils tested positive with the results of the other five who had been tested earlier also coming back positive.

“The situation is under control as all the learners are asymptomatic, they are being quarantined at the dormitories.

“Since we have one of the biggest mission hospitals in the country, the situation is under control and we are managing well.”