Contact Sports in Schools Suspended Immediately as Covid19 Spreads in Gauteng
- The Department of Basic Education has suspended contact sports in schools with immediate effect as Covid-19 spreads in Gauteng and other parts of Mzansi
- On Wednesday, the department said it was evident that protocols and various government gazettes outlining safety measures to curb the spread of the virus during contact sports were not working
- According to a statement, the Outbreak Response Team said the risk was high when engaged in close-contact sports
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Contact sports in schools across Mzansi has been suspended with immediate effect. The Department of Basic Education made the announcement on Wednesday, 19 May shortly after a virtual meeting with the Council of Education Ministers.
Angie Motshekga's department said it was evident that protocols and various government gazettes outlining safety measures to curb the spread of the virus during contact sports were not working.
Source: Twitter
In a statement, the department explained that the Outbreak Response Team said the risk was high when engaged in close-contact sports following the school sports activities related to Covid-19 outbreaks in Gauteng and the general rise of cases in communities across Mzansi.
Briefly News asked Facebook users whether they agreed with the decision by the Basic Education Department to suspend contact sports at schools. Check out some of the comments from our readers below:
Brian Khutso Mashego wrote:
"Oh so they've been playing sports while classes are not having full attendance?"
Given Ngwenya said:
"This is nonsense."
Emily Adams commented:
"Bunch of... they don't close bars, night clubs etc... but punish young kids... We are led xem."
Harvey Lori asked:
"What are contact sports?"
Kevin Dajuggernaut II replied:
"Harvey Lori, sports that involve participants touching each other like football."
Lucia Mvubu commented:
"Better to ban early than when the virus is uncontrollable. Alcohol also must be banned early, not when it's worse."
Lesiba Tlomatsana added:
"Seems like we gonna kiss school sports goodbye again."
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In other news, Briefly News reported on Tuesday that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned South Africa that the country is in the grip of a third deadly wave of Covid-19. Mkhize cautioned that the number of new infections is rising, signalling that the country is entering a third wave of the deadly virus.
According to News24, Mkhize has warned provinces to prepare for the third wave by meeting regularly and implement contact tracking and quarantine as their main reactions to the new wave.
On Tuesday the country recorded 1 548 new cases and 71 new deaths due to the virus.
"As of today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 1 599 272 the total number of deaths is 54 896 the total number of recoveries is 1 519 258 and the total number of vaccines administered is 414 372."
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Source: Briefly News
