More local schools closed due to Covid-19 cases

Three local schools were reportedly closed this week as the number of Covid-19 cases rises rapidly in and around the province.

Education department provincial spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani confirmed that Edlelweni Public Primary and Southbourne Primary Schools were among institutions of learning that had closed down due to Covid-19 cases this week.

One teacher tested positive “at Edlelweni Public Primary and a pupil at Southbourne tested positive and a class teacher is a person under investigation (PUI). Both schools were fumigated on Tuesday,” said

Pulumani.

He said that the department was informed about the parent of a grade R teacher at one of the schools who had succumbed to the virus.

Southbourne Primary issued a communique to parents over the weekend on following precautionary measures, indicating that the school would be closed for seven days.

As both schools were expected to resume activities on Monday, Edlelweni Public Primary School principal Zukisani Sondlo said most staff members underwent Covid-19 tests which had returned negative. All the necessary

“precautions have been followed and the school is ready to welcome other grades.”

Speaking to The Rep, Queenstown Girls' High School principal Theo Anaxagoras confirmed that the school was closed this week pending

Covid-19 results after two pupils tested positive for the virus.

Anaxagoras said a mobile laboratory was dispatched to the school on Tuesday, adding that

60 pupils and 15 staff members had made use of the facility.

The infected girls are currently “in isolation, including 15 who had showed signs and symptoms. All classrooms have been fumigated.”

Anaxagoras said the return of other grades was a concern as the school was expecting about

200 scholars on top of the 95 grade 12 pupils who had attended since schools reopened early last month. Social distancing will become “problematic, but we are looking to have alternate days and weeks so that we do not have a full component of pupils at the same time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Engcobo-based school Nyanga High had recently issued a statement announcing the suspension of the school's academic programme following a Covid19 case observed on June 15. The health department conducted more tests at the school and 17 positive cases of pupils was recorded. The

“suspension of tuition will include cancelling the phasing in of grade 9 pupils scheduled for Monday, June 29,” read the statement.