Kolanya Boys, Bahati Girls candidates remain in isolation after virus outbreak

 

Two schools, Kolanya Boys and Bahati Girls where a string of Covid-19 cases was identified in early November are still under isolation.

In Kolanya Boys a random test done to 100 students found 52 learners were found to be positive.

In Bahati Girls High School, Nakuru County, 68 students, and five teachers tested positive for coronavirus.

Belio Kipsang, the Basic Education Principal Secretary, on Wednesday said the two institutions are under isolation to curb the spread of the virus but teaching and learning are going on.

The PS was appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Health alongside the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday.

However, Kipsang hit out on parents for being indisciplined through the participation of reckless activities like political gatherings and visits to entertainment joints.

This, Kipsang says, has put children at risk of being spreaders. 

“By going out there in bars and political rallies and bringing the virus to the children and create a cycle where the children become carriers and take the virus to school and infect other learners who take it home as well,” Kipsang said.

In terms of closure of learning institution, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said that despite infection in schools, closure of all institutions is far-fetched.

He argues that the danger of coronavirus among children is quite low because of the asymptomatic nature.

Rather, the closure of institutions, he argues, should be on a case by case basis.

Kagwe said that the reopening of exam classes was to help in the transition and a test case.

Kagwe said the Health Ministry and that of Education, constituted the team to develop guidelines on health and safety protocols for the safe reopening of schools amid Covid-19 pandemic.

The protocols provide specific guidelines on hygiene and sanitation, social distancing, classroom sizes, and psychosocial support to learners, teaching, and support staff.

The Health Ministry is also working with the education ministry to identify health institutions and develop isolation centres, Kagwe said.