[ad_1]
By Sne Masuku 
1 hour ago
Durban – South Africa’s grim milestone reaching one million Covid-19 cases on Sunday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced, has shaken the country.
There are also reports of around 14 teachers who have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours.
According to a Facebook post by Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga, he received information five days ago that another 18 teachers were reported to have died from Covid-19 on Saturday and 32 had died in less than a week.
“The mourning for these holidays is too much. Many families have been left without loved ones during these holidays as a result of social activities,” he published.
Concerned by these numbers, the South African Union of Educators shared Mhlanga’s post on their WhatsApp chat group to warn his teachers that the second wave was real and was killing more and more teachers.
The Democratic Union of Teachers of South Africa (Sadtu) agreed that the number of teachers dying from Covid-19 was an indication that there were a large number of teachers in society.
Sadtu’s provincial secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza, said the school closed on December 15, ahead of the second wave, making it difficult for the union to collect statistics on the number of teachers who have since died from Covid-19.
“We are receiving reports of teachers dying from Covid-19. It would be dangerous to reopen schools now in the middle of the second wave, especially as the numbers show that more and more citizens who are also teachers are dying from Covid-19 So it is It is important that the government implement strict strategies to combat the pandemic now before schools reopen. We continue to urge our teachers to practice social distancing by avoiding crowded places and gatherings, “said Caluza.
South African National Professional Teachers Organization (NAPTOSA) provincial spokesperson Thirona Moodley said the school system must prepare for the 2021 school year, including the reality that several teachers and support staff will not be returning to work due to the severe Covid-19. pandemic.
Moodley said this would leave a gap in the system as their losses will be felt as the experiences and insights they offered cannot be replaced overnight.
She said this is because teachers are engaged in lifelong learning and accumulate invaluable experience over the years in the profession.
“Schools have planned for 2021 with all staff including any staff unable to return as a result of the Covid-19 infection will also mean that the school will have to adjust the schedule or quickly get replacement staff. The loss of any staff. school will be really sad because they will not only leave grieving families, but also families at the school, “Moodley said.
EUSA Secretary General Simphiwe Mpungose said the picture painted by Mhlanga in his Facebook post was just the tip of what was real in the communities where families were torn apart by this virus.
Mpungose said that from December 15-27, since the schools closed, the union had received reports of 900 teachers dying from Covid-19 through its social media platforms.
He said they received reports that last week, 343 teachers were turned away from hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal due to a shortage of beds.
“We are disgusted by the government’s attitude to keep the country at the level 1 lockdown, while all odds call for drastic measures to save lives. Teachers will soon be asked to go to qualification centers, where they will take the risk. to infect each other. Teachers will attend the qualification centers because they need money. EUSA asks that a vaccine be provided to the teachers who will work in these centers “.
Mkhize confirmed on Monday that there were 9,502 new cases and reported that a total of 6,445,318 tests have been performed with 29,494 tests completed since the last report.
KwaZulu-Natal is currently the province with the most active cases with 46,710 confirmed cases, while the Eastern Cape reordered the highest number of Covid-19 related deaths of 6,925.
Reported 214 more Covid-19 related deaths; 123 in the Eastern Cape, 17 in Gauteng, 13 in KwaZulu-Natal, 5 in the Western Cape and 5 in the North Cape, bringing the total death toll to 26,735.
The country’s recoveries stood at 844,874, representing a recovery rate of 84.1%.
Daily News
[ad_2]
