Of these confirmed cases, seven are principals, two are deputy principals, eleven are support staff, 64 are teachers and 22 are learners. This comes as the Department of Basic Education on Saturday confirmed that over 500 pupils, and at least 1 169 school staff members, have tested positive for Covid-19. The department also said 775 schools across the country had been impacted while over 14 of those are in the North West and 11 across three districts have already reopened after the shutdown due to Covid-19.

A total of 65 000 Grade 7 and 37 000 Grade 12 pupils across 1570 schools in the province, as announced by the department earlier, made their way back to school for the first phase of reopening. MEC Matsemela has further emphasised the need for schools to follow the standard operating procedures of Covid-19.

“I want to encourage all our officials throughout the department to follow the standard operating procedures whenever they report cases of Covid-19, school principals should ensure that they keep contact with the local clinic." Schools must, therefore take steps to circulate information about the disease and its potential transmission within the school community. The Department of Health declared schools safe after they have been decontaminated and disinfected," she adds.

Meanwhile, according to the latest statistics released by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, the province has 3,209 active cases after 433 patients recovered from the virus. Five deaths were recorded from 3,647 reported cases.

OFM News