Times Of Swaziland: 13 TEACHERS, 5 PUPILS TEST POSITIVE

13 TEACHERS, 5 PUPILS TEST POSITIVE
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Thokozani Mamba on 22/06/2021 08:45:00


SITEKI – A total of 13 teachers and five pupils from four schools in the
Lubombo Region tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week.
This is according to a report released by the Lubombo Regional Health Epidemic
Task Force Chairperson, Sabelo Masuku. In the regional report, it is stated that
schools were the most affected. Mabondvweni Primary School had three pupils and
the same number of teachers testing positive, while Mabhensane Primary had five
pupils and one teacher testing positive.
Sidloko Primary also recorded three pupils who tested positive, while Lusoti
High had two pupils and one teacher.
Recorded
According to the report, these cases were recorded in these schools last week
alone. In total, 59 cases were reported in the past two weeks in the region. The
Lubombo Referral Hospital currently has 13 patients receiving treatment for
COVID-19. About nine healthcare workers tested positive in the past week with
eight from Sithobela Clinic and one from Good Shepherd Mission Hospital (GSMH).
The report further states that seven cases were tested for travelling purposes.
It states that two Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES) Corporation Laboratory staff also
tested positive together with an artisan fitter.
“I would like to advise people to continue to adhere to the COVID-19
regulations of washing their hands regularly, sanitising and adhere to social
distancing at all times. That would be fundamental in the fight against the
virus,” Masuku said in the report. Lusoti High School Head teacher Thamsanqa
Masuku confirmed that his school recorded one teacher and a pupil testing
positive for COVID-19 last week. “The school was fumigated over the weekend
and we have since enforced preventative measures of ensuring that all pupils
have their masks on at all times, sanitise and keep social distancing,” he
said.
Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO) Richard Dlamini said they would be
dispatching school health teams to different schools to monitor the situation.
“As a region, we have observed that some teachers have become lax in terms of
adhering to the preventative measures. We have to remind them about these before
more pupils and teaching staff get infected,” he said.