Teaching at seventy-seven schools in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa have been affected within four days of reopening - some due to confirmed Covid-19 cases and others as a result of suspected cases.

Eastern Cape education department of spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said 48 of the schools were investigating suspicions of the novel coronavirus, and 29 were closed after positive cases were confirmed.

The department, which manages about 5 000 schools, has called for calm.

According to the Nationals, 31 of the schools were in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM), incorporating East London, King William's Town, the capital Bhisho and surrounding rural settlements.

Eastern Cape chairperson of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, Mongameli Peter, said they had warned the department about the premature reopening of schools.

"In Nelson Mandela Bay, there are more than five schools closed and in [the] BCM, there are 31. The numbers are rising by each hour. We are concerned. We had said before that let us use June and July for thorough preparations and open schools in August. This situation is forcing the education stakeholders to review their position on this matter."

Schools were reopened in a staggered manner for pupils in grades 12 and 7 on Monday, amid great anxiety from parents, SGBs (school governing bodies) and teacher unions over the possible rapid spread of Covid-19.

The province has two metropoles - Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City - and six district municipalities. Schools in these areas were expecting 13 000 pupils in grades 12 and 7 to return on Monday.

On Thursday, Pulumani said, "Schools do not need to be closed for an indefinite amount of time as cleaning occurs. After advice from the health department on who needs to isolate and [after] cleaning has been done, schooling can resume."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news24.com/amp/news24/southafrica/news/29-eastern-cape-schools-close-due-to-positive-covid-19-cases-48-more-have-suspected-cases-20200611

A decision fraught with folly....How does a rational adult phantom that CHILDREN can be responsible by a hair strand to navigate a risky Highly contagious disease ridden environment.

It is quite difficult to contain corona virus spread in schools, considering the fact that pupils and students could rarely have a nice time without coming in contact with each other.

Personally, I feel schools should still be shutdown till a more profound way of reducing the spread is brought forward, because the corona virus disease spread isn't ready to end soon.

Sabby1:
It is quite difficult to contain corona virus spread in schools, considering the fact that pupils and students could rarely have a nice time without coming in contact with each other.
.

Playtime has been scrapped, but clearly these measures aren't enough.

calaway:
A decision fraught with folly....How does a rational adult phantom that CHILDREN can be responsible by a hair strand to navigate a risky Highly contagious disease ridden environment.

Parents have an option not to send their kids to school. But then again, the government is putting them in a difficult position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W427bmUWQk4

Watch the facts about June 12 here.

2020 school year should be cancelled globally so we all on the same footing next year. No one should open this year to gain advantage over others.

haabaaa....wrong move

paulolee:
haabaaa....wrong move

Someone has got to test the waters first. SA is trying it out as did Israel below. Lessons for other countries.

TMKsouth:


Someone has got to test the waters first. SA is trying it out as did Israel below. Lessons for other countries.

and that calabar ben ayade is doing it in Nigeria..i jus pray it ends well for him

paulolee:

and that calabar ben ayade is doing it in Nigeria..i jus pray it ends well for him

Yes, let's consider calabar as Nigeria's test case. But is it a competent state? I'm not in Nigeria.

TMKsouth:


Yes, let's consider calabar as Nigeria's test case. But is it a competent state? I'm not in Nigeria.

Who knows anymore . They aren't testing

TMKsouth:


Yes, let's consider calabar as Nigeria's test case. But is it a competent state? I'm not in Nigeria.

yes...he claimed dt its the only state without covid cases as reported by ncdc..

SirWarlock:
Who knows anymore . They aren't testing

That doesn't sound good. I learnt from someone here that Kogi has done just 111 tests. Now you also telling me this?

FYI, in contrast SA hit the 1 million mark for tests today.

paulolee:

yes...he claimed dt its the only state without covid cases as reported by ncdc..

It would have been reasonable to reopen if they were testing on a large scale and were confident the state is low risk. But the poster above SirWarlock says it's actually the opposite.

TMKsouth:


That doesn't sound good. I learnt from someone here that Kogi has done just 111 tests. Now you also telling me this?

FYI, in contrast SA hit the 1 million mark for tests today.

Not according to official data from the ncdc. Data has it that they've only tested 4 samples that's why they've just 3 cases. I don't get the unnecessary tussle especially on the part of the state government .

SirWarlock:
Not according to official data from the ncdc. Data has it that they've only tested 4 samples that's why they've just 3 cases. I don't get the unnecessary tussle especially on the part of the state government .

You know state populations in Nigeria are the size of some countries?! Imagine hearing country X has only conducted 4 coronavirus tests in 3 months. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and reckless? I have no words.

TMKsouth:


You know state populations in Nigeria are the size of some countries?! Imagine hearing country X has only conducted 4 coronavirus tests in 3 months. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and reckless? I have no words.

The ones u just typed,is called what?speeches I guess.lol.

Hope dey for 9ja ladis?

TMKsouth:


You know state populations in Nigeria are the size of some countries?! Imagine hearing country X has only conducted 4 coronavirus tests in 3 months. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and reckless? I have no words.

At this point I just hope we're truly a special breed concerning covid Maybe our genes were prepared for it.

TMKsouth:


You know state populations in Nigeria are the size of some countries?! Imagine hearing country X has only conducted 4 coronavirus tests in 3 months. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and reckless? I have no words.

Bro, please how can one become a citizen of SA in a short period of time? this Nigeria matter don tire me

Lorazepam:


Bro, please how can one become a citizen of SA in a short period of time? this Nigeria matter don tire me

Hi again! Well, it's at times of difficulty that our countries need us most.

SirWarlock:
At this point I just hope we're truly a special breed concerning covid Maybe our genes were prepared for it.

Time will tell.

lol watin den dey find up nd down. why did u open school wen u aren't sure of safety

merieam16:
lol watin den dey find up nd down. why did u open school wen u aren't sure of safety

Safety measures are in place. Clearly they need to be strengthed.

https://www.nairaland.com/5907028/see-social-distancing-measures-public

donbachi:
The ones u just typed,is called what?speeches I guess.lol.

Last bit is figure of speech.

TMKsouth:


You know state populations in Nigeria are the size of some countries?! Imagine hearing country X has only conducted 4 coronavirus tests in 3 months. Wouldn't that be embarrassing and reckless? I have no words.

True.

But this virus sef get as e be, na ear we dey use hear am

Gauteng is the province encompassing Johannesburg and Pretoria.