98 learners in Eastern Cape school test positive for COVID-19

The Joe Gqabi Municipality in the Eastern Cape has confirmed that 98 learners from Ethembeni Secondary School in Burgersdorp have tested positive for the coronavirus.

There are 65 others are still awaiting results. Over 650 learners from the same school will have to be placed in quarantine, as they have been in contact with those that have tested positive.

Over 30 of these learners have been placed in an isolation facility at Aliwal North.

Another facility to accommodate more is being prepared in Steynsburg.

Education Department Spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, says they are trying to get more details.

“Yes, we can confirm that as the department, we have received reports from the districts and some are still trickling in stating that learners from Ethembeni Secondary School, including their educators were infected with coronavirus. We are preparing a statement using the reports that are still trickling in to ensure that we issue a statement during the course of the day,” says Mtima.

On Friday, the Department of Health confirmed that the country has a total of 657 627 coronavirus cases, with 15 857 related deaths to date.

The number of recoveries is at 586 844 translating to a 89.2% recovery rate.

The number of tests done to date is 4 003 590, with 20 057 new tests done as of Friday night.

Discussion on challenges learners face amid the COVID-19 pandemic: