The results of the tests for 15 of 31 teachers and students who have been tested for COVID-19 are negative, Ministry of Health spokesman Daniel Singh yesterday confirmed, while adding that results from the remainder were being awaited.
Singh said that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were done after teachers and students showed positive results when rapid antibody tests were conducted in Region Nine ahead of the restart of in-class lessons for CXC-exam level students.
Singh disclosed that those persons then underwent the PCR test and their results were in the negative.
This information was received after the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and the Regional Health Officer Dr Naail Uthman, said that the rapid tests shed light on the COVID-19 situation in the region.
In a statement, Uthman explained that as of last Monday, screening of students and teachers who have to return to school had begun to undergo rapid antibody tests. A positive rapid antibody test result does not indicate a person is positive but tells that the person might have had the virus but due to a lack of symptoms it was not detected.
Uthman said that the results help with managing the number of cases and spread of the virus in the region moving forward. He also said that the region will be continuing its monitoring of the school situation. Uthman informed that some rapid antibody testing was done in Annai, Karasabai and St Ignatius and some came back positive. However, he reminded that the children and teachers are not positive for COVID-19.
Speaking to this newspaper on Friday, Manickchand said that she had been visiting teachers and students of Region Nine and was happy to announce that the teachers of the region were ready to re-enter the classrooms. She further said that they underwent a rapid antibody test and the teachers from dormitories in villages like Aishalton, Sand Creek and Annai, to name a few, who tested positive for antibodies were expected to be swabbed for PCR tests to be done.
From last week, some teachers and students from the ten administrative regions have been undergoing COVID-19 tests. The results have so far showed that ten students from dormitories nationwide tested positive for the virus.
Manickchand said the students who have tested positive did not contract the virus at school. She said they brought it with them and she further assured that schools are following the necessary protocols to ensure that the virus will not spread through the school system.
