This becomes the second learning institution to have a huge
number of learners test positive to the coronavirus after John Tallach in the
same Umguza District was hit by the pandemic last year leading to premature
closure of schools.
Government has set up Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
that have proved effective in dealing with covid outbreaks at learning
institutions.
Umguza and Hwange districts account for most of the cases
that have been reported in the province because of proximity to Bulawayo and
the country’s borders.
Matabeleland North provincial Medical Director Dr Munekai
Padingani yesterday said everyone at the school is being tested and 350 which
is half the population of learners and staff has been tested so far.
He said one pupil started showing symptoms last week and
tested positive resulting in all contacts being tested.
“It started with one case of a student and we sent a Rapid
Results Team from Nyamandlovu and then we tested contacts and five came out
positive. We decided to test all of them and we are now testing everyone and
one teacher was positive also although we are still waiting for consolidation
of yesterday’s statistics. We want to test the whole school and so far we have
tested 350 which is half and we have 44 cases. Just like we did at John Tallach
we have put an isolation centre there,” said Dr Padingani.
He said some of the cases are symptomatic while others are
not. George Silundika is the only school with new cases in the province, he
said.
The province was hard hit by Covid-19 last year when pupils
and staff at John Tallach tested positive resulting in premature closure of
schools.
Lately, a number of schools have recorded Covid-19 cases
countrywide with Embakwe High School in Mangwe District in Matabeleland South
recording 91 cases recently, and Sacred Heart in Esigodini in the same province
recording more than 230 cases while St David’s Bonda Girls High in Manicaland
had outbreak initially reported on April 17.
Dr Padingani encouraged schools to continually adhere to
set health standards to avoid infections and news cases.
Meanwhile, health workers in the province are also carrying
out investigations at Sino Hydro in Hwange where 25 job seekers tested positive
last week.
The company which is contracted to expand Hwange Power
Station Unit 7 and 8 was recruiting new workers and as per policy all
prospective job seekers were tested and 18 came out positive.
Five more tested positive on Saturday bringing the number
to 25 although all are either asymptomatic and have mild symptoms, according to
Hwange District Medical Officer Dr Fungai Musinami-Mvura.
Matabeleland North has 85 active cases after recording 32
new cases on Tuesday. The province has recorded 1 364 cases and 18 deaths since
the first cases was reported in March last year.
The Province has vaccinated close to 40 000 people.
Chronicle
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