Local schools remain mum on Covid-19 cases, GDE not able to supply stats either

While the City Times has received information from several parents and learners about positive Covid-19 cases at their schools, the principals of local schools mentioned declined to comment, referring us to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson, Steve Mabona.

When approached for comment, Mabona said they do not respond on individual school cases.

Although learners returned to schools on June 8, the City Times enquired in April about a staff member at a Benoni school testing positive and no response was received from the GDE.

Since then, we have consistently sought comment from the GDE regarding official letters distributed to learners and parents about positive cases and schools closing for decontamination.

The GDE only responded to the City Times on July 11 with the following statement: “Accordingly, we do not confirm individual schools but update on all affected schools only at the provincial briefing, which is facilitated on Thursdays weekly,”
said Mabona.

“The suspension of lessons at a school that has a Covid-19 case is based on the risk assessment conducted by the Department of Health (DoH) and GDE officials during which they ascertain whether the school is in compliance with the Department of Basic Education/DoH protocols for managing Covid-19 cases in schools.”

According to Mabona, the DoH is responsible to contact, track and trace any close contacts and advise accordingly.

• Sanitisation of the affected surfaces and areas is conducted and in some instances the school is closed for not more than two days for this process to be completed depending on the size/number of the areas which the person have accessed.
• The affected school is then reopened thereafter depending on the number of close contacts identified to render the school operational.

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Mabona provided an update from the July 16 meeting update about the status of schools:

• In Ekurhuleni, 32 schools were closed and 185 cases were reported by July 15.
• Provincially: Public schools: As of July 15, 1 977 of the 2 131 public schools were open and 154 closed. These schools were mainly closed temporarily for decontamination due to reported positive Covid-19 cases.
• Public LSEN schools: On July 9, it was recorded that 105 of the 129 were open and 25 were closed.
• Independent schools: As of July 15, 656 of the 713 schools were open and 57 were closed.
• Furthermore, a number of closed schools is not static, as schools reopen after decontamination, the GDE report stated.

Despite this response, the City Times still encourages parents and schools to share their Covid-19 and all other schools news with us via email (bctschools@caxton.co.za).

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