A school in Kulim, Kedah has been asked to close immediately after new Covid-19 cases were reported there.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed that a teacher as well as 3 students were tested positive for the deadly virus.
According to reports, the 3 students are classmates of a 13-year-old girl whose family member is down with the coronavirus. “We have closed down the school and then we have actually screened and tested the students and also sanitisation has been done in that location. We have taken all the positive action in connection with the school. I hope that within a week or two we will have managed to contain the infection in that area,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
Having said that, the Kulim District Education Office initially did not receive a direct order from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to close the school. “For the closure of the school, that is under the advice of MOH and the National Security Council,” an officer from MOE was quoted as saying. Malaysiakini later confirmed the Kedah school’s closure.
This school is reportedly linked to the Tawar cluster – which currently has more active Covid-19 cases than the Sivaganga cluster.
Earlier this month, Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said that schools will be asked to close “based on the existing cases, risks, and how to deal with them“.
Sources: MMO, Malaysiakini.
