Schools re-opening delayed

Harare (New Ziana) – The 2022 school calendar has been delayed until further notice as a precaution against the rising omicron fueled Covid-19 infections, with the exception of examination classes which resume as per the original schedule, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced.
According to the original 2022 school calendar, O and A level examinations will resume on Monday next week while the rest of the students were supposed to return to school on January 10.
But, because of increasing Covid-19 infections and deaths recorded over the past few weeks, President Mnangagwa said it was prudent to delay the re-opening of schools.
He said the week closing the year had seen the country record a total of 10 384 cases of infections and 142 deaths, an average of 1 483 new infections, and 20 deaths per day.
Over the last three days alone, President Mnangagwa said, 2 000 new infections and 30 deaths were recorded daily.
In view of the gloomy picture, President Mnangagwa extended the current Level Two National Lock-down by a further two weeks.
“With the exception of examination classes which resume classes as announced by the responsible Ministry, the general school calendar is hereby delayed until further notice. Examination Classes exempt from this delay are however expected to strictly comply with preventive public health measures,” he said.
“While business reopens and resumes as normal, employers are expected to put in train all the essential preventive public health measures, including encouraging part of their workforce to operate from home, and through virtual platforms as practicable.
“As before and always, face masks must be worn by all our citizens in public places, gatherings and when patronising public transport.”
President Mnangagwa encouraged citizens who are yet to get vaccinated to do so.
He said provincial task-force teams would be on hand to motivate and intensify the vaccination process.
“While government finalises measures to introduce and roll out a nationwide booster vaccination programme, we are all expected to adhere fully to World Health Organisation measures on public health, including and especially the washing of hands under running water; sanitising; social distancing; to the extent possible avoiding crowds and unnecessary gatherings and, wearing face masks at all times and in all public situations.
“With a strict adherence to these measures and precautions, our nation should be able to ride through this fourth wave so we all return to, and resume, our normal, productive lives that we all yearn for. The call is to us all, the responsibility a shared, national one,” he said.
New Ziana