Harare (New- Ziana) –Zimbabwean schools will remain open until the end of the term on December 17 this year to allow learners to finish writing examinations with institutions taking enhanced measures to control Covid-19, whose cases have been spiking recently, a cabinet Minister has said.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Evelyn Ndlovu said this on Monday when she received 100 000 washable face masks from the Biomedical Research and Training Institute.
“I do not think we are closing soon because we have exam classes and we will do assessment by the end of December to see if schools can continue but l do not see any problem as long as students adhere to Covid 19 measures,” she said.
Ndlovu said although some schools had recorded cases of Covid-19, these had been contained.
“Yes, we have recorded cases in schools, but we have managed to contain them and schools will continue as earlier announced. Learners are actually in the middle of exams.
“I take this opportunity to remind all learners, teachers, non-teaching staff and stakeholders in our sector the importance of adhering to the standard operating procedures that were developed for our learning institutes,” she said.
Ndlovu said the face masks, which would be distributed in schools, would go a long way in ensuring that learners were safe from Covid-19.
“It is no coincidence that the Biomedical Research and Training Institute chose to donate cloth face masks to our learners because as researchers, they know that the risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus is slim by wearing face masks.
Zimbabwe has seen a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases with 2 555 new infections and 3 deaths being recorded on Monday and coming after the country last Thursday confirmed recording its first case of the new variant, Omnicron, which was first detected in South Africa and Botswana.
Some European countries and the United States have since imposed travel restrictions on Zimbabwe and other Southern African states after South African doctors announced the discovery of new variant.
Zimbabwe recorded 523 cases on Sunday, 1 082 on Saturday, 1 062 on Friday, 1 042 0n Thursday and 712 on Wednesday.
Health officials have said while cases were rising, it was a mild infection and few people were requiring hospitalisation.
According to the Health and Child Care Ministry, the country now has 7 777 active Covid-19 cases.
The government has since announced a raft of measures in a bid to curb the fourth wave of Covid-19.
These include mandatory PCR testing and quarantining of all visitors, a daily curfew running from 9 Pm to 6 AM ,while bars and restaurants only serve vaccinated customers.
New Ziana
