35 Schools in Kenya Record Covid-19 Cases Two Weeks After Reopening

17 students, 33 teachers, and 4 non-teaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19 since schools reopened two weeks ago, the Education Ministry has said.

Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang on Wednesday told the National Assembly’s Education Committee that the positive cases are from 35 schools but ruled out any possibility of closing learning institutions unless otherwise advised by the Health Ministry.

“We are not about to close schools unless advised by the Ministry of Health, but we are putting our heads together to work our modalities of reopening other classes,” said Kipsang.

He said the main challenge is achieving social distancing in public schools as the government will have to double school infrastructure.

The ministry will be providing water for regular washing of hands and ensuring students wear masks in schools to curb the spread of the disease, Kipsang added.

“Our challenge is our parents attending political rallies and other social gatherings without masks, let’s not blame our children, why tell us to achieve social distance in schools if parents are attending rallies without observing measures?” PS Kipsang posed.

Tononoka Secondary School Principal Mohammed Khamis succumbed to Covid-19 at a Mombasa hospital, days after the institution was closed after 14 teachers contracted the virus.