Following the reopening of Schools Increase in COVID infection among schoolchildren: PHI union

19 November 2021 08:42 am Views - 262

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

There is an upward trend in COVID positive cases among school children including primary schools after re-opening schools for educational activities, the Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union said.  

PHI Union President Upul Rohana told the Daily Mirror that many school children, especially teachers and academic staff members had tested positive for the Covid virus.  


Many positive cases had been reported in most of the schools in the Southern, Western and Central Provinces, including many districts, he said.  


So far, no serious cases have been reported among the infected children, Rohana said.  


“There are many positive cases in the community, and most of them don’t know whether they have been infected with the virus. Children from such families could spread the virus among other children after attending school,” he said.  


“Every schoolchild has a best friend or several friends, and they would engage in close activities such as having lunch together and so on. On such occasions, the virus could spread faster,” he said.  


Therefore, parents and teachers should advise their children to always wear face masks and to wash or sanitize their hands frequently, Rohana added.