Measures in place to contain Covid-19 in schools

Rumbidzai Zinyuke and Thupeyo Muleya
As the Covid-19 third wave continues to wane, Government has put in place strategies to prevent and manage the pandemic in schools after 14 learners and 19 teachers tested positive in the past week.

Schools reopened starting with examination classes on August 30 and the rest of the learners this Monday.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said those infected were part of the 299 689 learners in the examination classes.

“Cabinet is further informing the nation that during the week under review, 14 learners of the total of 299 689 enrolled in examination classes tested positive for Covid-19.

“A total of 19 teachers also tested positive, and Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that Rapid Response Teams are ensuring that Standard Operating Guidelines for the Coordinated Prevention and Management of Covid-19 are implemented,” she said.

Last week, nine learners at Kriste Mambo High School in Manicaland tested positive for Covid-19 prompting authorities to demand learners in the non-examination classes to produce Covid-19 free certificates to be allowed into the school on Monday.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care was by end of the day yesterday conducting more Covid-19 tests on pupils and members of staff at Tongwe High School in Beitbridge, where five pupils tested positive on Monday.

District medical officer Dr Lenos Samhere said a Rapid Response Team had been sent to the school in Ward 4 under Beitbridge Rural District Council.

Tongwe High School, which is one of the only two boarding schools in the district has an estimated enrolment of 600 pupils.

Dr Samhere said the affected learners had presented Covid-19 symptoms during screening on opening day and that the Rapid Response Team was busy with contact tracing and testing.

“We will know about the extent of the impact at a later stage,” said Dr Samhere.

“The findings on the ground will help us on the way forward. For now, those infected have been put into isolation.”

Despite the new cases in schools and other areas, the number of new infections have generally been on a downward trend over the past weeks with 1 113 cases recorded last week alone, a 38 percent decrease from the 1 785 reported last week.

Manicaland province reported the highest number of cases in the period under review at 213, followed by Harare at 180, Bulawayo (112), Mashonaland East (137), Masvingo (132) and Matabeleland North (96).

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet urges the nation to continue to exercise a high level of alertness and ensure that the Covid-19 third wave does not cause further harm to health and business.