Niël Terblanché
THE Mariental Secondary School was closed with immediate effect and stringent measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after one of its learners, identified as case number 37, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
As a result, one teacher and 13 learners were placed in cautionary isolation while they await COVID-19 test results. At the same time, all boarders were confined at the school’s hostel for the next 14 days while learners and teachers who reside in town were implored to isolate at home for the next two weeks.
In a statement issued by Sanet Steenkamp, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Education Arts and Culture, she said the ministry is mindful of the seriousness of the situation and the responsibilities it has.
“The ministry on the advice from the health ministry has today with immediate effect suspended classes for a period of 14 days until the 6th of July and hostel residents will remain in the hostel for the same period. In addition, one teacher and 13 learners were taken into precautionary quarantine today,” Steenkamp said.
The executive director said given the situation mandatory screening was done in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Social Services and World Health Organisation protocols.
“The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture guiding principle remain that of government’s that curbing the infection rate and ensuring safety, we will continuously make all the resources at our disposal available to ensure that the safety of the learners is prioritised, as far as possible, at the schools. In addition, learners are continuously sensitised on health-related safety measures and requirements that include Hepatitis E.”
Steenkamp appealed to the school and the community to remain calm and to give their cooperation with health officials.
“We call on all learners and teachers, parents and the community to be cautious of any flu-like symptoms and report them immediately to the nearest COVID-19 screening centre. The Ministry strongly advises against the travelling of learners and teachers from the Erongo Region for the interim period,” Steenkamp concluded.
