THIRTEEN schools and two offices of the Northern Cape Department of Education, including the provincial office in Kimberley, have been closed so far due to Covid-19 infections.
Department spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said Elizabeth Conradie Special School in Kimberley and Noupoort Combined School were the latest schools to be closed as a result of the virus.
“Other schools that have been closed thus far include Carnarvon Primary School, Enoch Mthetho High School, Ikhwezi Lokusa Primary School, Philipstown High School, Zingisani Primary School, Beacon Primary School, Veritas High School, Delta Primary School, JJ Booysen Primary School and Kimberley Christian School,” he said.
Van der Merwe said the department also had to close two of its own offices due to the virus.
“In addition to these 13 schools that have been closed, our Namaqua district office has also been closed due to a confirmed Covid-19 positive case. Another positive Covid-19 case was reported at our provincial office in Kimberley and we have therefore temporarily closed the unit. We have advised our officials to work from home and remain in self-isolation, while the Department of Health conducts testing for contact traces. We have made the necessary arrangements for the offices to be disinfected,” he said.
He said the department was working in partnership with the Department of Health in dealing with the matter.
“We must emphasise that these are individual cases that have been reported and we are working with the Department of Health in this regard. Once a positive case is reported, the department immediately closes and disinfects the school or offices concerned. We further determine whether staff, educators or pupils at the affected schools require psycho-social support and assist in this regard.”
He encouraged educators, parents and pupils to adhere to the Covid-19 regulations and continue to practice good hygiene by washing their hands regularly, maintaining social distancing and to always wearing their masks.
