COVID-19: Schools closed after teachers, students test positive
By Sophie Njoka and Irene Githinji
Two schools in Mombasa have been closed for two weeks after teachers and several students tested positive for Covid-19, raising fears of mass infections among learners.
County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo, yesterday confirmed that Star of the Sea and Tononoka Boys had been closed after cases were detected in the schools on Monday.
Reports indicated that some members of staff took private Covid-19 tests after showing symptoms and results turned positive.
“County health emergency committee arrived at the decision to close the schools for two weeks, to curb spread of the virus and to facilitate fumigation after tests carried on both teachers and students who had developed breathing complications, came back positive,” he said.
At the Star of the Sea, the number of teachers and students suspected to have contracted the disease is yet to be known since samples on tests carried on Monday had not been received by yesterday.
A source had confirmed to People Daily that a teacher from Mama Ngina Girls was reportedly admitted at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
However, the Principal of Mama Ngina Girls, Mwanahamisi Omar, said no such case was reported in her school. She said learning was going on uninterrupted.
“I am not aware of such a case. Maybe whoever was tested decided to keep it private. But as far as I am concerned, we are going on with our usual activities,” she said.
At Tononoka Boys, 11 teachers had tested positive after 43 tests, while the number of students who had tested positive was yet to be established since samples sent for testing had not been received from Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).
“We are yet to release the full report on exact number of students since some of the tests are yet to come back from Kemri.
We are still waiting for those results to enable us release a comprehensive report on the statistics of both the students and teachers whose results have turned positive,” noted Kitiyo.
He said all Form Four students who had come into contact with the suspected cases had been advised to self-isolate, awaiting contact tracing and self-quarantine in various hospitals in the county.
A parent of a Form Four candidate at Tononoka Boys, confirmed students had been advised to self-isolate at the institution.
No medication
“It is quite unfortunate that our children who were suspected to have come into contact with confirmed cases had been forced to isolate in schools.
They are being monitored closely for signs of Covid-19, with no medication being offered to them, awaiting the expiry of the quarantine period and retesting,” said a parent.
The parents said they are being informed on the progress of their children via WhatsApp group where information was being shared, since they are not allowed to visit them.
“We have been told they have been assigned two doctors and one nurse.
Two classrooms have been turned into isolation centres, and that we will be allowed to see them in two weeks after undergoing further testing,” he said.
At the Star of the Sea where 56 tests were taken, Principal Agnes Mulinge said learning had been suspended for two weeks following cases of Covid-19.
The school had requested tests to be conducted on both teachers and students, after two tutors showed signs and symptoms of the disease last week on Thursday.
“School operations have been temporarily suspended with effect from Monday to allow for fumigation. Operations will resume on November 2,” she said.
On her part, Mombasa County Public Health Chief Officer Pauline Oginga, said the exercise of contact tracing, isolation and quarantine had begun.
“In Star of the Sea we have begun the process of contact tracing, and isolating awaiting samples of other suspected cases, which are expected back anytime from today,” she said.
Similarly, Eldoret’s Lelmokwo High School Principal Titus Ngetich dismissed reports that there were coronavirus cases in the school.
“Ever since resumption of learning last week, we have not witnessed any instances of Covid-19, not even symptoms among our school community members.
We have diligently adhered to guidelines,” said Ngetich in a letter to Rift Valley Regional Director of Education.
Sources also told People Daily that a student and a teacher at St. Peter’s High School, Mumias in Kakamega had contracted the virus and had been isolated at the Mumias Isolation Centre.
