Covid-19 Government assures parents of schools safety

By Pretty Manyewe

Government has told parents whose children are in school, not to panic as the implementation of Covid-19 regulations is still in full force.
Schools opened in a phased manner last month with the examinations classes starting on March 15 and the rest a week later on March 22.

This was after the President Emmerson Mnangagwa relaxed lockdown measures, at a time when the country was not only progressing with its national vaccination program but there was a huge decline in positive new cases and a high recovery rate.

Updating the media after a cabinet meeting in Harare, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa highlighted that parents needed not to be alarmed after the recent outbreak in Umzingwane.

She said strong Covid-19 surveillance systems are being continuously implemented in schools and the low rate of positivity is a sign that the measures being taken were useful.

“Last week’s outbreak at Sacred Heart School in Umzingwane District of Matabeleland South Province was easily detected and dealt with. Out of the 248 students and 33 teachers tested, 117 were found to be Covid-19 positive.
All the cases are mild and the learners are isolating at school while teachers isolate at home. Response activities that include contact tracing and strengthening of all Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines are in progress,” she said.

The President’s decision to prohibit learners from leaving school during last week’s Easter holidays, minimising movement, proved to be beneficial as there was no spike in the number of positive cases nationwide after the holidays.

“In order to protect learners during the forthcoming holiday and to avoid the Covid-19 infection spike as happened over the Christmas and New Year holidays, all learners have been directed to continue remaining in boarding schools during the Independence Holiday in order to avoid travel congestion and minimize chances of contacting the virus.
All school heads without exception are required to observe this directive which is the national interest,” she said.