Concerns are emerging over the safety of learners in schools especially after the closure of several schools where a number of teachers and students tested positive for COVID-19 virus.
In a symposium organized by Aga Khan University, Nairobi, CAS Mwangangi on 23rd of October said, the status of schools as it stands does not merit closure of the institutions.
She, however, confirmed cases of teachers testing positive for COVID-19 adding that doctors have been dispatched to the affected schools. The CAS noted that the situation should not cause panic among parents. “Right now there is no cause for worry and no cause of concern,” she said.
“As much as children are masking and washing their hands and we have an alert system for anything that could go wrong, everything shall be okay,” Mwangangi said.
“It is not hard to hear that a certain teacher is positive or there is such a case in a school. It is essential that you will have positive teachers. Our children will remain safe and parents should not be worried too much when it comes to particularly classes which are already enrolled”
The CAS said that thorough assessment based on evidence is being worked on by the health authorities to inform the next course of action in the learning sector.
“What we are doing right now is that we are partnering with the Ministry of Education. We have a team of doctors which we have sent to the Ministry of Education, and they are sitting together to be able to determine the affected schools, to determine what the extent of that is and what measures can be put in place to ensure that the situation is under control.” She said.
“Studies are showing us that children are less and are being asymptomatic and may not be at a high rate. And yes we do appreciate that our teachers may be at risk. Measures are being put in place in consultation with the ministry of education as a team working to define what the next step will look like.” She concluded.
Kenya recorded an alarming 1,068 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total caseload to 47,212.
