[UPDATED] 10 Seberang Prai Utara schools ordered shut over Covid-19 cases

GEORGE TOWN – Ten schools in Seberang Prai Utara (SPU) have been ordered to close following a slew of Covid-19 cases there recently.

The SPU Education Department yesterday sent a WhatsApp message to the school administrators ordering the closure today and tomorrow.

The affected schools are SMK St Mark, SJK(C) Pei Yu, SK Seri Gemilang, SMK Bakti, SJK(C) Kai Chee, SJK(T) Ladang Malakoff, SMK Bagan Jaya, SK Penaga, SJK(C) Mak Mandin and SJK(C) Mah Hua.

This comes after some of the students were found to be in close contact with Covid-19 patients, or their parents or siblings tested positive.

SMK St Mark was supposed to reopen today after it was shut Monday to yesterday due to Covid-19 cases.

The department handed down the directive after a Form 5 student from Bagan Lalang tested positive for Covid-19. The father of a Form 3 student from Permatang Sintok was also confirmed positive and has been admitted to Kepala Batas Hospital.

The Form 5 student alerted the teacher about the matter at 1am on Monday, while teachers, parents and other students were told early that morning to not go to the school.

The department later informed the school that online classes will continue from May 17 to 28, after the Hari Raya holidays. There will be no online classes during mid-term school holidays from May 29 to June 13.

On April 26, SMK St Mark was also ordered to shutter after four students were listed as Covid-19 close contacts. The students were believed to be in close contact with infected students of a tuition centre here.

Meanwhile, the public market in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, has been partially closed since Monday as several traders tested positive or were found to be close contacts. The market has been sanitised and authorities have advised shoppers to adhere strictly to the SOPs during their visit.

Penang logged 195 more Covid-19 cases yesterday. – The Vibes, May 6, 2021