Schools in Alotau closed

By Aileen Kwaragu
SCHOOLS in Alotau have been closed after a student tested positive for Covid-19, the first case so far in Milne Bay.
Provincial education adviser Roma Tuidam said the affected high school in Alotau town was on lockdown with staff not allowed to move around.
“The case is a secondary school student and the whole area is currently under quarantine,” he said.
“Health officials were on the ground on Monday and contact tracing began at 10am Monday.”
Tuidam told The National yesterday that the affected student was isolated on Sunday as soon as the results arrived from Port Moresby.
National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning said on Monday that the 18-year-old female had not travelled out of the province recently.
Her sample was taken at the Alotau General Hospital and taken to the PNG Institute of Medical Research laboratory.
The school is under strict surveillance.
“With tracing started, we are not allowing teachers and their families to leave the school premises,” Tuidam said.
“We will make sure that they receive necessary supplies like food and other needs while the school is under quarantine.”
School heads in the province are expected to discuss what to do next.
“We will have an urgent meeting with the heads of each school to disseminate information on what to do next,” Tuidam said.
The schools were advised to close straight after the Grade 12 Written Expression Examination was completed on Monday.
Students are advised to stay home.
“We will wait for further advice from the provincial administrator Ashan Numa,” Tuidam said.
Prime Minister James Marape is expected to open a new market in Alotau on Friday.