Schools Reopening Postponed Due To Covid Surge

The reopening of public schools has been delayed by two weeks due to a surge in Covid-19 cases, the Ministry of Education announced on Monday. 

Schools had originally been scheduled to reopen on January 10 but this date has been moved to January 24 owing to a spike in Covid-19 infections driven by the new Omicron variant.

On Monday the country recorded 1,544 new infections - up from fewer than 500 cases just three weeks ago. The average number of infections per seven days has now climbed to 3,821, with 6 people dying from the disease each week.

Education Minister Douglas Sykalima told reporters yesterday that “although we are prepared as a ministry for the reopening of schools, the upswing is a danger.”

Mr Sykalima said the decision to postpone had been made following detailed consultations with the Ministry of Health. He explained that the ministry would use the time to put in place protective measures, such as fumigating classrooms, before reopening. 

The minister also emphasised that the government is keen to use this period to get pupils over the age of twelve vaccinated. Currently just over 6% of Zambians have received two doses of any Covid-19 vaccine.

Zambia is currently in the grips of a fourth wave of the pandemic, driven by the new omicron variant, which was first discovered in South Africa. While the new variant is thought to be far more infectious, there is early evidence showing that it may be less dangerous and produce a milder form of the disease in adults. However, further research is required.