MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the weekend WhatsApp groups and social media were abuzz regarding the high rate of infections at Point High School specifically.

Good news is that Covid-19 vaccinations for teachers are soon to start at schools in Mossel Bay.

This week the Mossel Bay Advertiser inquired to Point High School about the infections. At the time of press deadline on Wednesday, the headmaster, Adolf Gouws, said: "At this stage, 10 personnel are Covid-positive. We have 54 Covid-positive learners at this stage.

"Our total number of teachers and learners at the school who are isolating currently are 101. Most are ending isolation on Thursday (yesterday). The numbers are stabilising."

Gouws said he was grateful those infected did not have severe symptoms. It was only two staff who were really ill with the virus.

"We decided we would close the school on Friday, 18 June. I applied to keep the school closed on Monday, 21 June as well."

He said he had a meeting with the Education Circuit Office management and representatives of the municipality and the Health Department on Monday and after a long discussion, it was decided that because the numbers were stabilising, the school would open on Tuesday, 22 June, with strict protocols in place.

Tests will go ahead
Gouws emphasised that the school's series of tests would go ahead, starting on Monday, 28 June, "because the marks count for a large part of the year mark".

He said: "The learners that are sick or in isolation will still be able to write tests. My request is that if the learners tested positive or were in direct contact with other learners or people who were Covid-positive or even if they show symptoms of a cold, parents should keep them at home and have them tested for the virus as soon as possible."

"There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccination of teachers at schools is starting on 30 June and will continue on 1 and 2 July in the Garden Route and Central Karoo region Education Department circuit."

He said it was a relief that 585 staff at schools would be vaccinated in the region.

Gouws noted that at Point, staff could choose whether to be vaccinated or not. Most had decided to be vaccinated, he said.

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