MIRI – Sarawak is mulling the closure of all primary and secondary schools statewide due to the Covid-19 situation in the state.
State Assistant Public Health Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee said a meeting will be held this afternoon by the Education Ministry, as well as the state Disaster Management Committee and Education Department.
“They will deliberate at 2.30pm today.
“Due to the constant increase in infections among teachers and students, there are rising calls from all quarters to shut down the schools immediately.
“The committee has tabled a proposal to the state Education Department (in Kuching) and Education Ministry (in Putrajaya) for schools be shut for the next two weeks.”
Dr Annuar is Sibu Disaster Management Committee coordinator.
He said he has asked the committee to consider extending school closures as long as the coronavirus infection rate remains high.
“Close the schools for two weeks first, and we will evaluate the situation from there.
“Extend the closure if the infection rate is still high.”
In Sibu alone, he said, Covid-19 infections have spread to 85 primary and secondary schools, as well as preschools.
The Vibes learnt that about 200 schools and preschools in Sarawak have reported cases of teachers and students contracting the virus over the past month.
In Miri alone, more than 400 students were infected, said Miri Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
As of yesterday, the state logged 156 Covid-19 deaths and about 28,000 cumulative cases. – The Vibes, April 26, 2021
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