MIRI – Another two primary schools in Sibu district have been ordered closed due to the Jalan Awang and Hilir Covid-19 clusters.
SK Abang Ali and SK St Mary, in the vicinity of the two clusters in the town area, were told to shut by the Sarawak Education Department after urgent requests by the divisional Disaster Management Committee.
There are about 1,000 pupils and teachers at each school.
State Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee urged parents and students to stay away from the schools.
“These schools will be closed until further notice. The Covid-19 infection rate around these schools is getting worse, especially in the Kg Hilir housing estate.
“Pupils and parents must take note and stay away.”
Yesterday, SJK (C) Methodist, which has about 1,500 pupils, teachers and staff, was ordered closed after a coronavirus case was detected.
The school was among those that reopened on Monday despite the district’s high infection tally.
Dr Annuar said the school was shut immediately after it was found that a teaching staffer had contracted Covid-19.
“The headmaster is compiling a list of names for urgent swab and PCR tests.
“Anyone from the school, whether teachers, staff or pupils, must undergo screening immediately if they have any symptoms of the illness.”
Sibu is the worst-hit district in Sarawak by Covid-19.
Of the state’s 95 deaths and more than 13,000 infections, about half are in Sibu. – The Vibes, March 19, 2021
