Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Fayval Williams, informed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, that eight of the schools that should have started face-to-face classes weeks ago have been impacted by COVID-19.
According to Williams, some of these schools, which are spread across four of the Ministry of Education’s regions, have once again closed the doors.
She said that Donald Quarrie was ordered closed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, on January 21 after a student tested positive for COVID-19. The school will remain closed until the health authorities complete contact tracing.
Williams said a staff member at Penwood High School tested positive for the virus which caused the institution to close, although the institution is slated to reopen on February 1. Penwood and Donald Quarrie are in Region 1.
In Region 2, the resumption of face-to-face classes at St Mary High School was placed on hold after the spouse of a senior member of staff contracted the virus. Williams said the board decided to delay the start.
Four cases are affecting schools in Region 5 with a positive result at Sydney Pagon High in January. February 1 is set for reopening and at Fuller’s Wood Primary and Infant School a teacher tested positive with the school closing on January 13 but reopening January 20 after deep cleaning.
Munro College has also been impacted, as two parents of day students contracted the disease.
“As such, face-to-face learning has been suspended for the students who travel to school until the contact tracing, sanitisation and psychosocial activities have been completed,” Williams said.
She said Boarding students will continue face-to-face classes although those who left the campus last weekend, similar to those at the neighbouring Hampton High School, will have to quarantine for 14 days, before going back to face-to-face classes.
Meanwhile, in Region 7, Vere Technical High and Kemps Hill High have closed face-to-face classes. Vere shuttered on January 4 when a member of the ancillary staff tested positive, while activities at Kemps Hill were stopped, as the community had an increase in COVID-19.
Vere and Kemps Hill will resume face-to-face on February 1.
