On Monday, the Fauna and Sentraal Primary schools in the Free State suspended learning and teaching after two educators at the said schools tested positive for the coronavirus - exactly a week after grade 7 learners had returned to school.  

The management of Fauna Primary School reveals via a letter sent to parents dated 15 June, that they were informed that one of their staff members tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and immediately notified the Free State Departments of Education and Health.

The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Education, Howard Ndaba, told OFM News on Monday that mobile laboratories have since been dispatched to the respective school grounds for screening and testing. When learners in other parts of the country return to school following the long weekend, on Wednesday 17 June, these two schools will remain closed for decontamination and deep cleaning. 

Fauna says parents will be informed via SMS when it is safe for their children to return to school.  

Free State-based infectious disease specialist and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein, Cloete Van Vuuren, has in an interview with OFM News last week explained why there should not have been any irrational fear regarding outbreaks of the virus at schools. 

He says for one, the chance of children dying from the virus is infinitely small, and the measures in place to curb the spread of the virus in schools are in fact quite effective as echoed by Fauna. 

“A recent study looking at social distancing reveals if you’re in close proximity to a person, chances of contracting COVID-19 are 15% over a period of 15 mins. If you practice social distancing, this falls to 3%”. He says if you wear masks, but do not practice social distancing the chances fall to 4%. He says the risk of contracting the virus becomes small when you implement all the measures together like schools have, namely the washing of hands, using of masks and social distancing. 

OFM News