2 Bogra Zilla School students test positive for Covid-19

Two 10th graders of Bogra Zilla School have tested positive for Covid-19, after attending classes that resumed recently following a year-long closure due to the pandemic.

The development has spread fear of contracting the virus among students and their guardians and led to a drop in attendance.

The school’s Headmaster Shyampad Mustafi said the two students -- one from the morning shift and the other from the day shift -- were absent for the past few days. “Their parents recently confirmed that they had tested Covid-19 positive.”

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He also stressed that they have been following all the health safety rules to curb the Covid-19 spread since the school reopened on September 12.

However, Headmaster Mustafi said, the attendance rate was as high as 95% after the school reopened. “But now the rate has dropped to 80%.”

Apart from the two 10th graders, several teachers on condition of anonymity alleged, several other students of Bogra Zilla School were also staying at home after contracting Covid-19.

Hazrat Ali, the district’s education officer, said that they were active to ensure the safety of all students at all educational institutions. “We have no information on any other students testing Covid-19 positive other than the two at Bogra Zilla School.”

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The overall attendance rate at schools around the district has also dropped from 95% to 70% since they reopened as guardians are afraid their children will contract the virus.

Ali urged the guardians to not panic and pay no heed to rumours, as many have already stopped sending their children to school while many were considering the same approach until the situation improves.

Recently, 13 students and six teachers also tested positive for Covid-19 in Thakurgaon district while two other students died of Covid-19 symptoms in Manikganj and Lakshmipur districts.