Region Six Regional Education Officer, Bhagmattie LaCruz yesterday reported to the Regional Democratic Council that four secondary schools were forced to discontinue teaching in person last week after positive COVID-19 cases were reported.
She named the schools as: Berbice High School, Manchester Secondary School, Port Mourant Secondary School and the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS).
According to the education officer, as of yesterday, Berbice High School returned to teaching in person after the school was cleared following contact tracing and sanitisation.
The other three schools are presently conducting virtual classes in the interim while awaiting clearance from the health department.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, yesterday stressed the importance of adhering to the guidelines in place.
He said that a pandit had to be arrested in the Black Bush Polder area over the weekend, after officiating at a wedding with hundreds of persons in attendance.
The Regional Health Officer, Vishalya Sharma told the council that there were 36 new cases reported on Wednesday.
“If we can get 36 positive on one day and we still have outstanding tests to come in. It is getting really bad and when you look at it, it seems to be moving in a community spread,” Armogan posited.
He also noted that the New Amsterdam, Central Corentyne and Canje areas are hotspots.
On Wednesday there were four positive cases in the Skeldon area. Stabroek News was told that presently there are over 100 active cases in Region Six.
The chairman also advised that persons who are tested should isolate and await their results as there have been cases in the region where this is not being done. “We got to be very careful and this is something I think we need to educate our people that once they are tested they must stay home until they are declared negative.”
