According to the parents, another case of Covid-19 was registered following the previous six cases among matriculants who tested positive for the virus. One parent, who spoke to OFM News, says the school must be temporarily closed to allow for a proper process of decontamination. She accuses the school management of hiding important details from parents and some members of the School Governing Body (SGB). 

Meanwhile, the Department of Education's spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, has responded to the allegations by parents of concerned pupils and explained that schools have the standard operating procedure that clearly spells out steps to be followed when a Covid-19 positive case manifests in the school.

"Winburg Combined is no exception (to these standard procedures) and the school has consistently reported all the positive cases as they occurred, and has assured us that all related protocols have been followed. We had the privilege of visiting the school last month and had the opportunity to address the entire staff on Covid-19 health protocols," Ndaba adds.

However, the parents are adamant that there should be massive testing at school to avoid new cases popping up undetected. OFM News previously reported that the MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, said most schools that have been affected by Covid-19 in the province, are those with hostels.

She said the department is of the view that when learners leave the school premises and go back to hostels, they do not practise any Covid-19 protocols. This comes after five schools, including Grey College, according to Tsiu, recorded more than 60 positive Covid-19 cases.

Tsiu said both the departments of Health and Education are now monitoring the situation, and that nurses have been deployed to educate schools on the importance of non-pharmaceutical protocols.

On Saturday, OFM News reported that six matriculants at Winburg Combined school are quarantining after testing positive for the virus.

Also, 39 learners - 28 learners of Dr Blok and 11 learners of Heide Primary, who share a hostel, tested positive.

At least five schools, including Grey College, Willem Postma, Dr Blok, Heide Primary and Winburg Combined are known to have registered cases of Covid-19 cases since schools reopened.

OFM News