Former Director of Public Health Services, Dr Vasantrao Gujadhur, has called on Mauritian authorities to discontinue in-person learning at schools across the island until the rise in COVID-19 cases can be brought under control.
The call for action comes only days after a 16-year-old boy in Port Louis died even if he had received two doses of Pfizer jabs. It is unclear if the teen was COVID-positive.
Media reports say the number of cases has soared exponentially schools. The high rate of absenteeism, varying between 30% to 50%, is said to reflect the growing concerns of parents.
116 more people were tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, 281 on Wednesday, among whom 83 had to be admitted in regional schools for treatment. The total number of active cases on the island has hit 2,399.
“We’re asking that the schools be closed for only a couple of weeks to help contain the spread of the coronavirus,” the former Director of Health has been cited as appealing.
The Union of Rectors and Deputy Rectors of State Secondary Schools have also joined the fray.
It has reportedly sent a letter to the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education urging the authorities to revert to online for all sections .
“The new school calendar will give us time to complete the curriculum.”
Le Mauricien newspaper reported on Wednesday that Testing Teams of the Ministry of Health are “overwhelmed”, with more than 5,000 students to be screened per day.
“Classes are disrupted with a significant number of teachers being in isolation. With the increasing number of positive cases recorded in schools every day, all recovery plans are messed up,” the newspaper reported.
On the other hand, virologist Nand Pyndiah is against imposing further restrictions.
“There are already enough restrictions. The authorities simply have to ensure that the measures are respected, starting with the issue of crowded buses.”
Another virologist, Dr Shameem Jaumdally, said it will not practical to impose new restrictions with each new wave.
“We need to have new protocols for schools, particularly with regards to ventilation, physical distancing, testing and isolation. Everything must be done transparently, in order to reassure parents.”
