The Lagos State Government on Tuesday insisted that the Queen’s College, where three students recently lost their lives to cholera outbreak, would remain closed.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who addressed journalists after a meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and the school management in Alausa, said the school cannot be reopened as the water samples from one of the multiple water delivery points still pose safety and portability concern.

Idris said there are five water sources in the school of which three have been certified okay while the remaining two still pose serious danger.

The commissioner said, “To be specific, water samples from the delivery points to junior and senior students’ hostels conform to official specifications, while there is need for additional decontamination of the reticulation to the kitchen and the sick bay.”

He said because of the polymicrobial nature of this occurrence, continuous screening, follow up and monitoring would continue for all students and staff of the school.

He, however, directed all proprietors of schools to ensure adequate environmental sanitation and hygiene within the school premises and provision of safe water and appropriate refuse disposal systems.

Idris also stressed that all kitchen staff and school food vendors should  undergo food handlers test bi-annually as well as continuous monitoring of water and sewage treatment plants.

He said the state government regretted the unfortunate incident, especially the deaths recorded and commiserated with the parents on the painful losses and the hardship faced by survivors.

“You may recall that I did mention during the first press briefing that the disease was due to contamination of the multiple sources of water in the school with various micro-organisms. I am delighted to inform you that the sources of contamination have been largely removed,” the commissioner added.