15 Nov 2020

A pupil sitting for Junior Certificate Examinations at Meepong JSS in Selebi Phikwe has tested positive for COVID-19.

Chief education officer, Mr Elisha Masedi, said in an interview that the pupil was writing examinations at an isolation centre.

He said arrangements had been made to ensure that pupils who tested positive to COVID-19 would  not miss their examinations.

Mr Masedi said Meepong JSS also registered 10 suspected cases amongst them form three pupils.

He said the 10 affected pupils were provided with transport to school for their examination, which was administered separately from other  pupils.

He said after the examinations, the said pupils were transported back home so that they would not have contact with others.

He raised concern over large gathering of pupils after school, urging parents to take responsibility of their children after school.

He said teachers could not afford to take care of pupils during and after school.

Mr Masedi also urged parents to ensure that pupils showing flu symptoms did not go to school, urging them to take them for medical examination.

Furthermore, he said screening was done without fail thus pleaded with parents to also meet schools half way by adhering to health protocols at home to mitigate against transmission of corona virus in schools.

He noted that transmission was also becoming a problem in Selebi Phikwe, adding that some schools had started recording confirmed positive cases.

So far, he said one teacher had been placed on isolation after testing positive to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, 890 pupils in six junior secondary schools are sitting for Junior Certificate examinations in Selebi Phikwe.

The examinations kicked off on November 2 and will end on November 19  

In addition, greater Selebi Phikwe DHMT coordinator, Mr Mpaphi Mbulawa, added that the area hadso far registered a total of 148 confirmed positive cases of which 57 were still active whilst 92 had recovered.

He said Selebi Phikwe cluster had a total of 41 active cases, whilst Bobonong and Mmadinare clustered had 12 and four cases respectively.

He said due to limited isolation facilities, majority of clients had been isolated at home.

He urged communities residing in greater Selebi Phikwe zone to adhere to COVID-19 protocols. Ends