THE NUMBER of schools in the Northern Cape that have been closed due to Covid-19 has jumped to 11.
The Northern Cape Department of Education said the latest four schools that have been closed are Duineveld High School, Delta Primary School, JJ Booysen Primary School and Kimberley Christian School.
Department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said the other seven schools that were closed to date are Carnarvon Primary School, Enoch Mthetho High School, Ikhwezi Lokusa Primary School, Philipstown High School, Zingisani Primary School, Beacon Primary School and Veritas High School.
“We must emphasise that these are individual cases that have been reported and we are working with the Department of Health to establish the contact traces. Once a positive case is reported, the department immediately closes and disinfects the school. We will further determine whether staff or pupils at the affected schools will require psycho-social support and assist in this regard,” said van der Merwe.
He added that two schools that had previously been closed, had now been reopened.
“Zingisani Primary School and Beacon Primary School have reopened, whilst most of the other schools are preparing to reopen during the course of this week.
“We are constantly monitoring the situation in all our schools and engaging the Department of Health to ensure the health and safety of our Correo Temporal and pupils. The department has all the systems and precautionary measures in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“Although we have closed 11 schools thus far, nine schools will reopen during the course of this week. These were individual cases that were reported and should serve as comfort to parents in the department’s ability to handle this pandemic.”
Van der Merwe urged pupils and educators, as well as parents, to continue to adhere to the Covid-19 regulations.
“We further encourage educators, parents and pupils to adhere to the Covid-19 regulations to continue to practise good hygiene by washing your hands regularly, maintain social distancing and to always wear your mask to curb the spread or contracting the coronavirus,” said Van der Merwe.
