As the COVID-19 infections continue to increase in most parts of the country, Western Cape Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer, confirmed on Tuesday, June 15, that there are more than 450 active COVID-19 cases amongst schools in the province. According to Schäfer, there are 148 active cases of COVID-19 amongst school staff members and 314 active cases amongst learners in the province.
As reported by EWN, Schäfer indicated that while most of the cases are being reported by schools, the provincial Department of Health had confirmed that the rapid increase in infections is linked to social events rather than pupils being at school.
She added that the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) safety measures have proved effective in preventing the virus from spreading and schools should continue to follow these rules. Schäfer also appealed to learners and staff members to behave responsibly and urged parents to consider the implications of allowing their children to attend unnecessary gatherings, SABC reports. The Western Cape has over 7000 active COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations stand at one-thousand-109 with 257 patients currently being treated in ICU. Meanwhile, primary school learners will resume in-person class attendance and traditional timetabling from July 26. Minister of basic education Angie Motshekga gazetted these regulations on May 28.
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