Blairgowrie Primary School issues statement to parents after learner tests positive for Covid-19
RANDBURG – The school confirmed via class WhatsApp groups that the learner had tested positive but declined to comment further to the media.
UPDATE: 21 March, 12.30am
After confirming yesterday afternoon that a child in the foundation phase of the school had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, Blairgowrie Primary School has wished the child a full recovery, and has stated that parents should not expect to be notified of any member of the school community contracting Covid-19.
“We are hoping for a full recovery and our thoughts, love and prayers are with the child and the family,” read a statement issued to parents by School Governing Body chairperson, Patrick Kelly.
“School management and the SGB need to weigh up our responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of each pupil or staff member’s personal circumstances, with advising relevant families of potential risks to their own families. As school is now closed, the risks diminish and confidentiality is more important.
“Parents should not expect to be notified of any member of the school community contracting Covid-19 virus (or any other illness),” read the statement.
Parents of children at the school were concerned by the school’s reluctance to share further details about the child, stating that simply identifying the child as a ‘learner in the foundation phase’ was not sufficient.
The school has however confirmed that parents in the child’s class have been informed.
A Randburg Sun reader whose domestic worker’s child is in the foundation phase at the school said that the response was simply not sufficient. “I am disgusted by the school’s response. ‘Parents should not expect to be notified’. This should be made public. What happened to social responsibility?” said the reader in an inbox message sent to Randburg Sun, along with a copy of the letter.
She questioned whether the school was living up to its social responsibility by refusing to divulge any further information regarding possible future coronavirus infections within the school community.
The resident continued to point out that the children share some facilities at the school. She further questioned the decision given our continent’s precarious position regarding the disease. Sciencemag.org, a publication by AAAS which has a high credibility rating, has called Africa’s coronavirus situation ‘a ticking time bomb’.
“It is normal for people to be careful,” the reader said.
Randburg Sun has once again contacted Pat Oosthuizen, principal of Blairgowrie Primary School, as well as the spokesperson for the Department of Education, Steve Mabona, and will update this story as new information becomes available.
The NICD is not able to confirm individual cases, and is only able to confirm numbers by region.
INITIAL REPORT: 20 March, 3.25pm
Blairgowrie Primary School has confirmed to parents that a child in the foundation phase of the school has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus.
On 20 March parents received a message confirming that a learner had tested positive for Covid-19.
The child reportedly last attended the school on 13 March. The National Institute of Communicable Diseases confirmed that a five-year-old child with pending travel history has tested positive for Covid-19 in the Gauteng area, but cannot confirm the school that the child attended.
The Randburg Sun contacted school principal Pat Oosthuizen who declined to comment on the situation.
The Randburg Sun also contacted the Department of Education’s Steve Mabona who was also unable to confirm but will update on the situation once further information is provided to him.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/394157/covid-19-global-situation-report-19-march-2020/
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