Three hundred and twenty teachers and more than 165 students have contracted the coronavirus since the new school term began in Guyana.

The Guyana Teachers Union says the virus has struck in over 152 schools in the last 2 weeks.

The Union’s President Mark Light says the situation can no longer be ignored.

The GTU has been against the Education Ministry’s decision to allow all schools to resume face-to-face classes this term.

With a surge in cases in the past week the union has recommended that all schools be closed.

The Education Ministry has rejected the suggestion.

There are more than 11,000 active cases of the virus in the country.