Seven Zim students test Covid-19 positive

Munashe Mukahlera

Seven students at Prince Edward High School, one of Zimbabwe’s top learning institutions, have tested Covid-19 positive.

The seven were among 265 learners tested at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals earlier this week.

The remaining results are still pending, and the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry is expected to give direction.
School head Dr Aggrippa Sora informed parents of the development via a circular.

Dr Sora said the seven have since been quarantined.

He was not immediately available for comment when ZTN followed up with the school office on Thursday.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said: “The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will follow the guidelines presented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in relation to any suspected cases at Prince Edward School.

“It is the Ministry of Health and Child Care that confirms Covid-19 cases across the nation and, therefore, will wait to hear their confirmation.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Dr Sifiso Ndlovu quipped: “It is important now for the authorities to up their game in the vaccination rollout by ensuring that they target clusters like schools and quickly support them.

“They should add the supply of PPEs and be more resilient in testing and isolation to mitigate the challenges before we may have to close schools for the third time.”

Zimbabwe reopened schools on March 15, 2021 after escalating Covid-19 cases forced a premature end to 2020 third term learning.

At the time, several schools reported cases, with over a hundred students at John Tallach School in Bulawayo. Goromonzi High School had at least 12 cases and Waddilove High School 40-plus.

Anderson Secondary School also recorded cases.

This and rapid domestic transmission of the disease prompted authorities to enforce Level 4 lockdown.

The Southern African country’s statistics now stand at 1 516 deaths and 34 476 recoveries.

An ongoing vaccination programme is targeting 60 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity.
Nearly 50 000 citizens have been inoculated so far.

Schools have variably introduced hot-sitting, alternate learning times, compulsory sanitation, masking and temperature checks to help contain the disease.