The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) says schools are not adhering to the Covid-19 health protocols resulting in the outbreak of the pandemic among learners.
This follows an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Child Care that Matabeleland South schools reported 20 cases while Masvingo province reported 14 new cases.
Yesterday the Country reported 60 new cases (all local) and three deaths.
“Thirty-five new recoveries, national recovery rate rises to 96 percent and active cases go up to 420. As of today, Zimbabwe has recovered 133 302 cases, 128 188 recoveries, and 4 694 deaths,” said the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Contacted for a comment, Primary and Secondary Education Ministry Director of Communication and Advocacy, Taungana Ndoro said yesterday the ministry has recorded 3 840 Covid-19 recoveries and only 152 active cases among learners nationwide.
ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure said it was proof that schools were struggling to adhere to standard operating procedures.
“It is not a surprise for us when the spike of Covid-19 is being realized in schools we have been constantly monitoring this and we have been giving these reports to the government and advising them of the need to adhere to standard operating procedures,” said Masaraure.
“The schools don’t have personal protective equipment, for most schools, there is no running water, they don’t even screen the teachers when they enter into the physical school ecosystem.”
He also claimed that no school in Zimbabwe is adhering to standard operating procedures.
“At a national scale, the adherence to standard operating procedures is around 35 percent. No school in Zimbabwe is adhering to standard operating procedures, so obviously if there is a case of Covid-19, the virus will spread in those particular schools because we are being reckless.
Matabeleland South provincial medical director Dr Rudo Chikodzere said the pandemic was still active in the community and they are continuously recording new cases.
