More schools and colleges in Swaziland (eSwatini) are
to reopen from coronavirus lockdown just as the Ministry of Health’s epidemiologist
predicted cases of the virus could triple before the end of the month.
Dr Vusi Lokotfwako reportedly said positive cases could reach 12,470
over the next 10 days. As of 20 August 2020 the Ministry
of Health reported 4,110 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) since
the crisis began in March. Of these, 2,643 had recovered. There had been a
total of 81 deaths, up from 41 at the end of July.
The eSwatini
Observer reported Lokotfwako said people needed to follow guidelines
on personal health, wearing facemasks and social distancing to keep the numbers
down.
A partial lockdown introduced in Swaziland in March has been eased. The Observer
reported, ‘He mentioned that during the lockdown, the cumulative curve [the
number of people becoming infected] of the country was very low, however as the
economy was gradually eased, a lot of people contracted the virus.’
On Thursday (20 August 2020) Swazi Prime
Minister Ambrose Dlamini announced that more school classes would
reopen starting on Monday. Some classes already resumed on 6 July. More
university classes would also return from Monday.
School teachers’ leaders oppose the move. The Swaziland National
Association of Teachers (SNAT) already has a case before the High Court after
the July reopening asking for schools to be closed again because
they continue to be unsafe for pupils and staff.
After the Prime Minister’s statement SNAT Secretary General, Sikelela
Dlamini said the teachers’ position
had not changed.
In his statement the PM
said, ‘Health
teams have been deployed in all four regions to monitor and attend to all schools’
concerns with regard to the pandemic, and a National Schools Health team which
consists of doctors is in place to assist all schools.’
He also said ‘a noticeable number’ of pupils had not
returned to school when they reopened ‘mainly due to pregnancy’. He added others
had taken illegal and informal jobs.
See also
Swaziland schools reopen from
coronavirus lockdown amid fears virus not peaked
Swaziland hospitals close
to overwhelmed by coronavirus, says Heath Minister
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/07/swaziland-hospitals-close-to.html
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