SCHOOLS CLOSE OVER COVID-19
AT LEAST four Harare schools have reportedly stopped physical lessons over Covid-19 concerns.
Chisipite Senior School, The Heritage School, St Johns Preparatory School and St Johns College sent e-mails to parents informing them of the closure of the schools because of Covid-19 cases recorded at the schools.
“We regret to inform you that we have just received notification of a confirmed positive Covid-19 case amongst our student body and after extensive discussions, we have decided to end physical lessons and activities at school with immediate effect.
“We have taken into consideration every member of our community and feel that it is in the best interest of all concerned for us to resume online lessons as of tomorrow (yesterday),” said Chisipite Senior School deputy Headmistress Heena Padayachee.
The Heritage School said they “have received information that a member of (their) school community has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus,”
“It is therefore prudent that as a school, we take immediate action to control the situation by closing the school with immediate effect. It is unfortunate that we have had to take this action, but we feel it is in the best interest of our community,” said the school in a letter to parents.
However, they stressed that Grade 7 examinations will go ahead as scheduled with parents requested to collect pupils soon after exams.
St Johns Preparatory School also wrote to parents informing them of the closure of the school.
“Due to Covid-19 cases at the College, they have taken the decision to immediately close the school.
“Given the above announcement and acting urgently with an abundance of caution, we are taking the advice of our medical department and will close St John’s Preparatory School at lunch time (29 November 2021).
“This immediate precaution will allow Grade 7 boys to continue writing their ZIMSEC examinations under these enhanced safety measures.”
St Johns College added: “We have been informed that a boy in the Lower 6 and a member of staff have tested positive for Covid-19.
“The staff member did not accompany any students on either of the camps last week and did not teach any classes as his students were away, but was in contact with other staff members.
“Given this and acting urgently and with an abundance of caution, management has taken the decision to shut down the school immediately.
‘The targeted antigen tests of students this morning (yesterday morning) have resulted in all negative results.
“Despite this encouraging news and because of the incubation period we will continue with the shut down.”
The closure of these schools comes amidst fears of the B.1.1.529 ‘Omicron’ Covid-19 variant, which has so far been recorded in a number of countries globally, including neighbouring Botswana and South Africa.
WHO classified the new Omicron strain as a “variant of concern” on Friday.
However, Zimbabwe has not recorded any case of the new variant yet but there has been a sudden rise in Covid-19 cases from 40 recorded Sunday to 235 on Monday.