Several schools halt activities due to Covid spike
Seven teachers and 60 learners from Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool are currently isolating.
Many schools in Pretoria and Centurion are taking precautionary measures against the possible third wave.
This comes as several Pretoria east schools have reported an increase in learners testing positive for the virus this week.
According to Steve Stolk, principal of Laerskool Lynnwood, a member of an interest group consisting of principals of east schools,
expert advice had been sought from virologists upon which the decision was based.
“All schools belonging to this group sent out letters to parents this week, informing them that contact sports and outdoor activities including inter-school matches and cultural activities had been halted with immediate effect until 29 May.”
Other primary schools included in this group are: Elarduspark, Monumentpark, Menlopark, Pretoria-Oos, Anton van Wouw, Constantiapark, Tygerpoort, Garsfontein and Skuilkrans.
The following high schools also halted their extra-curricular activities: Waterkloof, Menlopark, Affies Meisies and Affies Seuns, Wilgers and Garsfontein.
“Not as many learners in primary schools get sick, but they do, however, have brothers and sisters in high school and family members at home,” Stolk said.
“We do not have a single Covid-positive learner in our school, but several high schools reported that learners tested positive for the virus.
“More teenagers than young children tend to get sick and spread the virus more than learners in primary schools.
“The crux of the matter is nevertheless that culture and sport is indeed very important, but academics is more important. We want to keep the learners in schools for academics.
“In terms of the letter to parents, participating in sports trials remains the prerogative of the parent and learner concerned since no-contact sports can continue,” Stolk said.
The following schools confirmed positive Covid cases among their learners or staff:
“Covid-positive learners are isolating, as well as those who had been in primary contact with them,” said the school’s principal Johan Koekemoer.
Koekemoer said the school informed parents that all outdoor and sports activities would be halted with immediate effect for at least two weeks.
“The department of health has also issued strict regulations we have to adhere to,” Koekemoer said.
Spokesperson Dirk Taljaard said the school had 60 learners and seven teachers isolating at the moment.
He said based on expert advice and taking the health department’s regulations into consideration, management and the body corporate decided to discontinue outdoor activities with immediate effect.
“We noticed a sharp increase in Covid-positive cases in our school. There are 11 learners in different grades who have tested positive for the virus.
“We would have played rugby matches against Grey Kollege and Jeppe Boys’ High and will endeavour to reschedule matches to be played at a later stage,” Taljaard said.
Taljaard said although the players were “hugely disappointed”, being responsible was in the learners’ best interest.
“We have positive Covid-cases and a couple of learners in isolation,” school spokesperson Hannaliza Fechter said.
Annette Grobbelaar confirmed the school also experienced a rise in Covid-positive cases recently, and halted its outdoor activities.
“We have some learners and teachers in isolation and adhere to precautionary measures,” Grobbelaar said.
However, the following schools have not seen a spike in cases:
“We have only had two cases where two learners from one family got sick. They played rugby and netball and we sent their teams home to isolate as a precautionary measure,” spokesperson Carin Stoltz-Urban said.
“Then we also learnt that a learner tested positive after there had been a grade 10 party, and we sent all those who attended the party home to isolate as a precautionary measure,” Stoltz-Urban said.
“We continue with sports and cultural activities, however, we adhere to Covid protocols strictly.”
– Pretoria Central High School
“We don’t have any Covid-cases in our school, but we have suspended sports activities and gatherings since lockdown last year,” principal Thomas Hlongwane said.
– Royal Queens Private High School in the west
“We had one case in March this year when an educator tested positive for Covid,” said principal Francis Kufa.
“All sports and cultural activities had, however, been suspended since last year,” Kufa said.
Schools requested learners and parents to adhere to Covid protocols and if learners were sick or showed symptoms, not to attend school, but to have themselves tested and isolated accordingly.
At the time of going to press the respective provincial departments of health and education were yet to comment.
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