Sixty-eight (68) students and 5 teachers at Bahati Girls Secondary School tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the Nakuru County Government confirmed.
This was just two days after 52 students, 6 teachers, and 2 support staff tested positive for the virus at Kolanya High School in Busia County raising fears over the safety of the section of students who resumed classes on October 12 after the COVID-19 induced hiatus.
In a press statement, Nakuru County Health CEC Dr. Kariuki Gichuki said the 68 students are currently in isolation while 115 other students are in quarantine.
“One student, who tested positive for COVID-19, developed some complications and is being attended to at the Nakuru PGH COVID-19 isolation and management centre,” said Dr. Gichuki.
“A medical team is monitoring the condition of the students and teachers in isolation and quarantine at the school.”
The CEC reassured Kenyans that his department is monitoring the pandemic across the populous county while surveillance has been heightened in schools to protect learners.
“The on-going program targets teachers, non-teaching staff and learners in all schools across the county,” he added.
“We urge residents to continue observing preventive measures issued by the Ministry of Health. Stay safe.”
ILL ADVISED RESUMPTION?
On Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha remained bullish stating that children are safer in schools than at home while COVID-19 continues to strike schools at an alarming rate.
Further, during the 13th COVID-19 address to the nation on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that basic learning resume in January 2021.
This is despite a surge of COVID-19 cases in school that has prompted suggestions that the government might be forced to walk back on its decision to send Kenyan children back to school.
“To foster the State’s preparedness of the reopening of all classes in our learning institutions in January, I urge and encourage Members of Parliament to engage their respective National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) boards with a view of finding ways to augment the existing interventions that are geared towards the reopening of our schools,” directed the President.
“I urge them to make investments that focus on additional handwashing points in our schools and the provision of face masks to our children on general sanitization in our schools as well as the physical distancing of students and teachers,” he further directed.
Meanwhile Grade 4, Class 8 and Form Four students are still in school after they resumed learning on October 12.
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