New Era Newspaper

New Era Epaper
Icon Collap
...
Home / Oshikoto schools shut down over Covid-19

Oshikoto schools shut down over Covid-19

2021-02-17  Obrien Simasiku

Oshikoto schools shut down over Covid-19

OMUTHIYA - Over 240 casesoflearnersinOshikoto who tested positive for Covid-19 are asymptomatic, according to regional health director Joshua Nghipangelwa who described the situation as calm and manageable. TwoseniorsecondaryschoolsofEkulo and Uukule are affected, with 145 and 100 confirmed positive cases, respectively. Teaching and learning has since been halted at the two schools, according to education director Aletta Eises, who said they are now focusing more on safety and hygiene “Ekulo has 850 learners and 300 were tested, of which 145 learners’ results came out positive. Another 300 was tested at Uukule, 100 came out positive. Uukule has 790 learners.

We have therefore embarked on the disinfection of the school as well as fixing ablution defects so that hygiene is improved,” stressed Eises.
Further adding that four learners from Ekulo who showed Covid-19 symptoms were admitted but have since been discharged and sent home for selfisolation.

Eises said learners who tested positive are kept in another section of the hostel, while those waiting for results are on the other side. Another group of pupils that are not tested is kept on the classroom side.
“As I said, we are now focused on restoring the situation to normal by improving health and safety. Health officials are on the ground assisting.
About learning, we have decided that once restored, learners will be taught on weekends and holidays to make up for a lost time,” added the director.

She also said food is now being brought closer to the pupils to limit the risk, while mobile toilets and showers are being constructed.
On the other hand, Nghipangelwa said all precautionary measures are being put in place such as segregation of learners into smaller groups as well as disinfection of schools. 

“There is nothing much to worry about, all the positive cases are asymptomatic and not severe as if it was in adults. They are also in the six to
seven days stage, which is less harmful. Therefore, the chances of experiencing a severe case are very slim,” assured Nghipangelwa.
He could however not state the origin of the cases or the carrier. “Covid-19 is everywhere now, therefore, it’s difficult to pinpoint who or the
origin. In this case, the learners were the source and not the school, the schools have hostels, which means the virus could have been contracted anywhere, therefore one cannot say it’s an Oshikoto outbreak,” further said Nghipangelwa. 

Furthermore, he said, committees including various stakeholders have been established to investigate and come up with modalities on how to address the situation. In an interview with New Era a fortnight, Eises anticipated the outbreak, saying she was worried about a couple
of schools where learners from different areas are entirely housed in hostels. At the time, she said it is extremely difficult to exercise social distancing due to limited infrastructure, even though the region received N$74 million for construction of hostels and ablution
facilities at various schools.
–osimasiku@nepc.com.na


2021-02-17  Obrien Simasiku

Share on social media