WATCH: MEC update on Covid-19 cases in schools
He also touched on the matter that involves parents that feel their children must not return to school on June 8.
At the Gauteng Provincial Command Council weekly media update on Covid-19 on June 5, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi reported that there are 12 cases reported as of June 2. Eleven educators and a learner.
Among those there are two schools in the South which are affected.
In the Johannesburg Central district, Sir John Adamson High School an educator went into self-isolation on May 31 awaiting test results.
Also, in the Johannesburg South District, a Forest Hill Primary School (FHPS) staff member tested positive. The school is closed for decontamination. The school sent the following message to parents on Friday: Due to a staff member testing positive for Covid-19 FHPS is closed until further notice. The Health department is assisting. Stay home. Stay safe.
MEC Lesufi explained: “Generally we are ready for the opening of schools on June 8. Our approach is safety first. Before any school opens PPEs must be in our schools. On screening and social distancing we are utilizing trained youth brigades to execute this mandate and every school must be cleaned first before leaners can be in and the provision of water and sanitation.
“All the schools in Gauteng have PPEs. Bidvest have partnered with us and donated their services in cleaning our schools.
“We are working on the protocols on case management on all those who have tested positive. Also on what are the step by step protocols because this is very important within the education space – who to report, what kind of support that the department will provide and what role should the school play and what role should the district play. We have now finalized these protocols and dispatched them to our schools including in case a learner test positive within the school premises, what are the protocols that need to be followed. With the assistance of Department of Health, I think this will assist us to manage all these things. These are the screening protocols that we are talking about, what needs to happen in case a positive case is reported and the systems that need to be followed until we receive all relevant information.”
He also touched on the matter that involves parents that feel their children must not return to school on June 8.
He said, “As Gauteng we’ve got four choices that were given to parents, namely: class contact, home schooling, e-learning or lockdown learning and schools with special needs. For more information on how to register on these go to our website.”
Watch the video here:
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