BULAWAYO – One of Zimbabwe’s top schools has suspended learning for two weeks after five pupils tested positive for coronavirus this week.
Panic spread through John Tallach Secondary School on Wednesday after six pupils exhibited higher than normal body temperatures during routine screening. Subsequent tests showed five of them had the virus which has killed 255 people in Zimbabwe and infected over 8,000 others.
The latest incident will rile teachers’ unions which opposed the re-opening of schools for the third term, warning that the government was ill-prepared to protect both learners and teachers from the virus.
The five affected pupils have been released to their parents to self-isolate at him, according to Taungana Ndoro, the director of communications in the ministry of primary and secondary education.
“Lessons have now been suspended for 14 days and movement from dormitory to dormitory has been prohibited whilst teachers have been asked to stay within their cottages,” Ndoro told ZimLive on Friday.
John Tallach enrols 600 students with over two dozen teachers.
Bonakele Ncube, the school head, has written to parents saying the ministry of health is testing and screening more pupils “in order to determine the extent of the spread.”
“We believe everything is under control as we continue to work with the ministry of health and other relevant authorities to contain it,” Ncube assured concerned parents.
Ndoro was keen to sidestep questions about the government’s decision to reopen schools in the middle of a pandemic. Teachers’ unions say schools have no masks, sanitisers and personal protective equipment for teachers after the government forced the re-opening of schools since their closure in March when the virus was first confirmed.
“The ministry is pleased with the manner in which its standard operating procedures for the prevention of Covid-19 are taking effect. There’s screening for Covid-19 at all schools and all independent colleges,” Ndoro maintained.
“We as a ministry have encouraged that there should be at least one infrared thermometer at every entry and exit point to the school where learners and staff are screened. Such screening is focused on body temperature, and persons that are found with high temperatures are not allowed on the school premises but are politely directed to isolation holding bays to await further attention from the ministry of health and child care.
“In the case of John Tallach, six students exhibited high temperatures and were immediately isolated for further management. We invoked rapid response team from Hwange which took samples and regrettably five of them tested positive for Covid-19.
“As a ministry, our standard operating procedures have managed to protect the other learners and teachers through our standard operating procedures which have managed to contain the virus.”
The Presbyterian-owned John Tallach is one of Zimbabwe’s top schools and is known for consistently posting a high pass rate.
