The Ministry of Education would like to inform parents, guardians and the general public that all students at Lilongwe Girls Secondary School who tested positive and remained in isolation on campus totaling 278 as well as five members of staff have all been discharged from isolation by medical personnel having monitored and screened them again for COVID-19.
On 12th January 2021, a group of 19 students complained of mild illness which prompted School Management to consider testing for COVID-19 of which 16 tested positive. This discovery prompted the health authorities at Lilongwe District Health Office to do mass testing of both students and staff. By the evening of 15th January, 2021, all students had been tested and a total of 311 (51.4%) out of 605 students tested positive. Those who tested positive were isolated from the ones who tested negative and had a separate dormitory, kitchen and other facilities.
Apart from the 16 students who had mild symptoms, three more students became symptomatic and were referred to health facility where they were attended to by medical personnel and have since fully recovered from the ailments. This shows that 292 students representing 94% who had tested positive had no symptoms at all. This agrees with the advice from Medical Personnel that a large number of the students will likely shed off the virus and recover within a few days without any symptoms. Out of 38 members of staff tested, 5 members of staff who tested positive had no symptoms.
It is pleasing note that similar results have been registered at Nkhotakota Secondary School where 29 students and one teacher also had negative results to COVID-19 after getting tested again.
While in isolation the Ministry provided nutritional support and counselling and guidance and physical exercises to the students that did not require nor involve contact and touching.
The Ministry is hopeful that as more students in schools go for testing and screening after completion of their isolation, they will register similar results.
Government wishes to reiterate its position to keep all students on campus to cut school–community infection cycle. We advise schools and the general public to continue to practice infection prevention measures of Covid-19 which include: wearing masks, physical distancing and regular hand washing with soap or the use of hand sanitizer preventive measures already announced by Government.