‘Ntshase Covid’ craze runs amok in schools

Students alleged to be sharing masks Smearing books and tables with saliva

Shoshong Senior School has been temporarily closed following an unexpected surge in Covid-19 cases.

Coordinator of Mahalapye District Health Management Team (DHMT) Thandie Kgosiesele told The Midweek Sun on Tuesday that the school was closed last week Friday after recording more than 200 cases. “We are worried, the health system is doing all it can to contain the spread at the school, but now we realise the virus has gone on to affect even those in the village,” Kgosiesele said.

Asked if they have identified what could be leading to such an increase, Kgosiesele said they have not yet put a finger on it but investigations continue. “There are allegations making rounds but we have nothing concrete to work with.”, she said. Messages shared on social media suggest that Shoshong students have taken the notorious “Ntshase Covid” craze by students across the country to the extreme. It is alleged that the students share masks with infected individuals in an effort to infect themselves.

This is done so that they can stay home and not attend classes. The students are said to peddle the narrative that only the elderly get sick and die from infection, and that they only test positive with no illnesses. Teachers are also said to be in danger as students are allegedly smearing their books and tables with saliva. They then hand the books to the teachers hoping they get infected and thereby miss lessons. “Students target a teacher they hate or dislike, then smear saliva on the teacher’s table, books or simply go on to touch them with the aim of spreading Covid,” a circulating Whats App message reads.

This past week, North East Regional Education Director Labane Mokgosi told this publication that they have been made aware that Masunga Senior Secondary School students might be deliberately spreading Covid-19 as well. However, just like Kgosiesele, he too said they had no concrete evidence to that effect as the suspected students who were questioned had denied it all.