Caution as virus cases reported in Kenya schools

Mohammed Khamis, head teacher at Tononoka Seondary School from Kenya's Mombasa County, died of COVID-19 on Oct 26 and was buried on the same day according to Islamic rites. Khamis died after Mombasa county officials reported 15 teachers had tested positive for COVID-19 since schools reopened on Oct 5.

According to John Musuve, education chief officer of Mombasa County, Khamis died at the Mombasa General Hospital where he was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. He added Khamis had been admitted to the hospital on Oct 15 having complained of breathing difficulties.

Gilbert Kitiyo, the Mombasa county commissioner, said 11 teachers from Tononoka Secondary School and four teachers at Star of the Sea Girls High School had tested positive for Covid-19. The two schools have since been closed according to the county commissioner.

Elsewhere in Machakos County, a student of Muumandu Secondary School tested positive on Oct 24 while 16 people who interacted with him have been isolated.

In a letter written on Oct 26 to Kenya's Teachers Service Commission, Patrick Mwangangi, the school's head teacher, says medical personnel took the student to his family for home-based care.

"Four teachers who taught the student have self-isolated and their samples have been taken for testing. Twelve students who shared classes and a dormitory with the boy were also tested and put in isolation," Mwangangi said.

He added the medical officers from the county offices were prompt in their response to prevent the virus from spreading. Within a day of the case being confirmed, medical personnel had disinfected the school and educated teachers and support staff on measures to curb the spread of the virus.