Five hundred and 27 learners and 165 teachers have tested positive for COVD-19 since the resumption of schools 10 days ago. Executive Director at the Ministry of Education Sanet Steenkamp says that schools who report COVID-19 positive cases will close for a maximum of three days. This she says will allow the authorities to conduct disinfections at school. But she says the closure of a school after a positive case has been diagnosed is the last resort, as each case is dealt with differently. Steenkamp said an investigation carried out last month by UNICEF across nine regions, together with the health authorities and the ministry found that 49% of learners who tested positive for COVID-19 got infected through community transmission. Other findings were that tippy-taps at most schools were found empty and that there is relaxation with some of the applications of the health protocols. This she said is a cause for concern. Her office has now directed all schools to strengthen the adherence to the set COVID-19 measures at schools. Steenkamp added that schools that have the capacity are allowed to operate on a normal basis provided that they enforce the set measures.