08 Feb 2021

Motlhasedi Junior Secondary School in Tobane has been hit by COVID-19, with 39 learners testing positive.

Of the 39 pupils, 35 were boarders and the rest day scholars, according to Mmadinare Cluster chief medical officer, Dr Nhlanhla Rabanyana. The cluster, together with those of Selebi Phikwe and Bobonong, constitute greater Selebi Phikwe region.

Dr Rabanyana revealed that 15 have been referred to Matsiloje isolation facility, one was at home while the rest were at Mmadinare isolation centre.

About 129 learners had been quarantined on the school premises, he said.

“Upon receiving reports of possible COVID-19 cases on February 6, the management sent a team to the school to investigate and ultimately test all the 300 students, where an initial 16 cases were yielded,” said Dr Rabanyana adding that afterwards, 23 more  learners tested positive.

He said despite the high numbers of pupils on either isolation or quarantine, normal teaching and learning would continue for unaffected classes.

Meanwhile, Bobonong’s Matshekge Hill Senior Secondary School has recorded a total of 166 positive cases from an enrolment of 691 pupils.
Of the 166 positives cases, 141 were boarders, while 25 were day scholars. All the positive cases are currently isolated in the school’s boarding facilities.

Eight staff members, six teachers and two non-teaching staff, also tested positive.

As a result of the high number of cases, the district emergency operation team, led by the deputy district commissioner, Ms Angelinah Leano, moved to close the school last week but the decision was later overturned by the regional director of education and director of public health services.

Though the two directors found the committee to have overstepped their powers, suspension of teaching and learning has since been effected.

Greater Selebi Phikwe as at February 8 show that the region has recorded a total of 1 423 cases.

There were 38 new cases, 622 active, 784 recoveries and 13 deaths.

Of these cases, 585 were recorded in Phikwe, 479 in Bobonong and 359 in Mmadinare clusters. ENDS