By Mwiza Keikuzi
Concerns are high in Uganda and a lock down is imminent after close to 15 million children left for their villages today untested in response to a government suspension of crowded activities across the country.
President Yoweri Museveni announced a raft of measures on television Sunday night following a resurgence on of COVID-19 resurgence in the country due to hat experts say is a mix of five variants in the country which include the deadly UK, India and South African ones.
The measures included closure of schools and tertiary institutions where these children are emerging from with some carrying symptoms of the virus.
A teacher warned a WhatsApp group of parents linked to one of the top secondary school in Kampala after four similar ones reported cases to shocked parents who had come to pick their children.
“Dear parents, please beware as you pick the kids from school, ask how they are feeling.”
Another parents showed concern and posted this message:
“Let us be careful since they’ve been interactive with others this one week. Some have symptoms of flu and cough. And for some it is actually the virus. I Decided to test mine before taking them home and one is positive of corona virus. But you can imagine the mixing that was there today, even with just the guys who help us carry the luggage. Let the boys first isolate if they have any signs. If you can test them before they mix with other family members, the better. Otherwise they spread to the vulnerable at home and the virus will keep spreading.”
A doctor who happens to be a parent observed in another parents WhatsApp group while praising the government decision:
“Schools are like concentration camps. The speed at which Covid spreads in such circumstances is terrific. That’s what happened in elderly homes and nursing centres in Europe. In the country side people spend most time in outdoor activities where spread is minimal unlike where people spend more time in closed doors like schools. It was a very difficult decision but a right one.”
Another parent backed him with the following comment:
“It was no better time to close than now.”
However, it the more chilling messages like the one below that has sent health experts in panic mode fearing a mass infections as huge number of students head from high impact cities to low infection areas especially the villages in the countryside.
“Some suspected to be carrying the deadly coronavirus, have left school for their villages. The closure of schools and higher educational institutions might complicate the spread of COVID with 15 million students back into their villages where the spread is minimal compared to town. They are criss-crossing the Country and most aren’t tested. I am told some parents are in shock as they have found their some of their kids were already sick but the schools had not informed them.”
“This means for sure Covid-19 has been transferred a d is being transferred across the country which means in two weeks’ time we shall know this movement’s true negative impact. We should have kept the sick at school treated them from there then only have parents pick healed kids. At this rate we may see a lockdown hit us unfortunately,” warned another parent.
School Fees dilemma:
Given that students had just returned to school and had hardly spent two weeks, parents have been cursing school administrators who refused to come clear on the fate of the tuition fees they had just paid wondering whether their money will be carried forward to after the 42-day government suspension.
However, school like Clarke Junior School in Muyenga, a Kampala City suburb and Hillside School Naalya in Wakso District were reassuring:
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Following the President’s guidance for Schools to remain closed, Kindly note the following:
1. For Parents who had already paid School fees for this term, the dues will be carried forward to when the face to face term opens.
2. The school intends to resume online lessons.
Details on the same shall be communicated on Thursday 11th June 2021.Thank you for your cooperation.
HILLSIDE SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT
CLARKE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Dear Parents,Last night the President issued several directives in response to rising COVID cases.
This included schools being prevented from reopening. We are so sad that we cannot receive your children back physically again as previously communicated.
However, our resolve to keep on learning is not shaken. We are determined to provide quality learning, and build and improve on our distance learning. We will also take this opportunity to plan, prepare and ensure school readiness for when we return in 6 weeks.
We will host a snap Zoom discussion at 3pm today for parents to voice their ideas
and concerns as we work together to support our children as best we can and make the most of this period. To join this meeting click this link https://zoom.us/j/97132655070?pwd=K3J5UUNmdCtiUFczeHRXRFJqSkt2dz09
Any terms fees that have been paid, will be credited to your account.
Hope to see you this afternoon.
Ms Tucker
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has announced new cases with the highest recorded ever in one day at 1,026 out of 7,296 samples tested.
The cumulative confirmed cases are now 53,961 while Total Covid19 deaths: 383
Active cases on admission are 739 and the Cumulative recoveries stand at 47,760