Some 32 students who attend dormitory schools have been tested positive for COVID-19, says Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during today’s update. He said that all of those students are asymptomatic.
The parents of those students were informed and discussions were held to provide the necessary medical attention to those affected.
“All of the cases that we’ve had so far are really asymptomatic, and we only knew that they were positive because we actually did the PCR tests and so, we are monitoring. There are a few students whose parents have opted to take them back home, and we have allowed for that because in our discussions with those parents, we have given them the option of the child going to an institutional isolation or they can go back home and, of course, observe the guidelines that we have given to them,” he said.
The minister added that monitoring is ongoing at dormitory schools countrywide as senior secondary and TVET students settle into the school term.
Dr. Anthony said these cases were expected and this was the reason behind the Health Ministry rolling out testing so that it could ascertain how many students were actually infected.
“[We] wanted to make sure that everybody who would be living in the dorms, would be free of COVID and because they were coming from different places, we weren’t sure of their status. So, the important thing was once they get into the dorms, test everyone …test the persons who would be working along with them, teachers included,” he said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.
As expected, there were several cases at President’s College and later on at two schools in Bartica.
He said the Ministries’ strategic plan to deal with these cases is being followed, with support in every region from Regional Health and Education Officers.
The minister gave assurances that both Ministries are working together to ensure the safety of students and teachers at schools.
