Alarming increase in virus cases among students

34 students tested positive for Covid-19 in last three days

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has postponed the decision of opening schools for classes five and lower, as the risk of coronavirus spread gains traction with as many as 34 cases reported among students since the schools reopened from September 15, the Express Tribune has learnt.

The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD) spokesperson said on Friday that 24 children were detected with Covid-19 in Gujranwala and seven in Nankana Sahib.

“One child and one school employee in Bhakkar while one school employee in Lodhran was detected with coronavirus,” he added.

The Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shahkot and Garrison School Nankana Sahib have been closed after detection of coronavirus among the students, the spokesperson informed.

“So far, samples of students for coronavirus test have been collected from 14,746 government and 1,566 private schools. Out of the 13,796 tested samples of the children, 34 were tested positive.”

P&SHD spokesperson asserted that the authorities would shut down the school for five days if two coronavirus cases are confirmed at a school.He also said that the department is conducting tests of the families of children who were ascertained coronavirus positive.

The health department officials said only 5% students were tested for the virus and 34 students were tested positive over a period of three days. Officials are concerned that these cases would be in thousands if 100% students are tested. “Following an increase in Covid-19 cases, in the coming week a high level meeting would be called to review the decision of opening schools for little kids,” said a senior Punjab School Education Department official.

Asma Shahzadi, mother of a school-going kid, said she would not risk sending her child to school if more cases are reported in the coming days.

Meanwhile the Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary criticized the government’s decision to reopen schools, “We demand that the authorities should postpone opening schools for little children otherwise the situation will get worse and uncontrollable.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2020.