ANKARA 

Schools reopened in most parts of Namibia on Monday after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Standing operating procedures (SOPs) have been sent to the school as to what to do and how to work closely with the Health Ministry,” Namibian Sun local daily quoted Executive Director of the Education Ministry Sanet Steenkamp as saying.

In the central Khomas region, 22 students, a teacher and three staff tested positive at a school. Twenty-seven other students are in quarantine.

Schools in other regions welcomed students of grade seven, eight and nine. Classes were held maintaining social distancing rules.

Teacher unions, however, have expressed fear that reopening schools may cause a spike virus cases.

Since March, some 8,685 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Namibia, with 89 deaths, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based John Hopkins University.

The virus has claimed more than 882,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in Wuhan, China in December.

The US, Brazil, India and Russia are currently the worst-hit countries.

More than 27 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 18 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.