CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: Ministry of Health officials in Gweru have cleared Nashville High School of a purported COVID-19 scare that had taken the nation by shock as audio that made rounds on social media alleged that school authorities were covering up an outbreak at the school.
A visit by CommuTalk at the school established that a total of 192 students had been tested for COVID-19 and all tested negative and the number consists of 95 boys and 97 girls. All members of staff were also tested and their results were negative.
Further conversations with school authorities also established that the five boys shown in the circulating pictures were true and the boys had flu-like symptoms. The picture is said to have been taken while the boys were awaiting attention from school authorities.
In a statement this morning, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Nick Mangwana confirmed that the five boys had been taken to Totonga Clinic for examination and had tested negative for COVID-19.
“So far 33 people at Nashville had been tested for COVID-19 and all were negative. Five boys presenting with flu-like symptoms were tested at Totonga Clinic and were found negative,” wrote Mangwana on his Twitter account.
CommuTalk also caught up with one of the boys in the picture in the company of his parents and confirmed he was feeling better.
“Yes, I was one of the boys in the picture and I am feeling better. The picture was taken while we were awaiting medical attention,” said the boy.
Some authorities also highlighted that alarm was raised by a pupil who had been denied a pass to go home eyeing the 25 October Anti-Sanctions Day holiday who in turn sent pictures to his parents saying everyone in school was sick and authorities were denying them hospital attention.
Ministry officials from Midlands Province attending to the scene however denied giving official comments highlighting that the Ministry of Health and Childcare is expected to address the nation on developments and findings from Nashville High School anytime from now.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health officials are still at the school investigating COVID-19 compliance and a report is yet to be made.
