10 Jun 2021

Sowa deputy district commissioner, Mr Tsaone Nkarabang says they are overwhelmed by the high number of positive cases at Nxakato Junior Secondary School.

Briefing the Sowa full council, Mr Nkarabang said the boarding school admitted learners from Sowa settlements and other villages in Nata/Gweta constituency. Mr Nkarabang explained that on June 1, about 74 pupils tested positive, mainly boarding learners and from the number, only 50 were taken to Matsiloje isolation center while the remaining 24 were placed in isolation at available vacant pool houses in the township.

He further said the high number prompted them to do more rapid tests in classes and more positive cases were recorded, where an additional 54 pupils tested positive.

The deputy district commissioner said the Matsiloje isolation centre could only take 20 pupils from the 54 due to inadequate space at the centre.

He highlighted that the remaining 34 were also placed in isolation in other vacant pool houses. He however added that they were also running out of empty houses which they could use for isolating learners.

Mr Nkarabang appealed to the leadership to come forth with any donation, which could assist them to care for the isolated pupils accommodated in pool houses.

He explained that since most of the pupils were from rural settlement, they could not take them to their parents to be cared for from their homes, noting that it was entirely upon them to care for the pupils hence the plea.

On other issues, Mr Nkarabang noted that COVID-19 vaccination programme was progressing well since its launch in May, stating that a good number had been vaccinated during the first phase of people aged 65 and above.

To date, he said, 3 230 people had been tested,with 202 positive cases and two deaths, which were recorded last year. Ends