KUALA LUMPUR – Schools with Covid-19 cases will be closed for a minimum of two days, said the Education Ministry.
In a directive issued yesterday, the ministry said the closure is to allow district health offices to carry out a risk assessment, close-contact tracing and disinfection.
The closure will be extended based on an assessment by the district health offices.
School administrators are required to immediately inform state Education Departments and district education offices if a Covid-19 case has been detected.
The ministry directive states that district education officers are required to meet the administrators of the affected schools on the first day of the closure, to assess the need to extend the order. If the administrators are unable to attend due to Covid-19, representatives should take their place.
The ministry advised that parents be clearly informed about such closures.
It said the matter was decided in an April 21 meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and involving the Education Ministry, Health Ministry and National Security Council.
The meet was held amid criticism that the infectivity rate and Covid-19 clusters are on the rise at education institutions.
Selangor closed 79 schools today, and 20 were shut in Penang.
Sarawak is expected to decide on the closure of schools statewide later today. – The Vibes, April 26, 2021