By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 20: Students residing in hostels and dormitories of schools and education institutions located in Covid-19 red zones affected by closure are not allowed to leave the premises or travel home for the next two weeks.
State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that students are required to remain on campus for their safety and that of their families.
“We advise them to stay in their hostels, not to go home because (it is risky) if they do like in Sibu that is already a red zone.
“So if they stay in their hostels within schools or residential colleges, they will be safer there.
“They can move around within the compound of schools or education institutions by strictly complying with SOPs (standard operating procedures) because problems will arise if SOPs are not adhered to,” he told a press conference to give updates on the Covid-19 situation in Sarawak here today.
Uggah who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, added that the Division Residents had been instructed to provide People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) personnel to assist schools and institutions if they needed back-up to enhance the security of their premises.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has yesterday (April 19) announced that all schools and tuition centres in Covid-19 red zones in Sarawak will be closed for 14 days starting today following the resurgence of Covid-19 cases across the State.
He pointed out that the Sarawak government took this measure as infections had been reported in schools and students, parents and teachers could be infected.
As of today, there are 21 districts in Sarawak classified as Covid-19 red zones. They are Tatau, Sri Aman, Bukit Mabong, Belaga, Kanowit, Selangau, Saratok, Subis, Matu, Mukah, Sarikei, Beluru, Samarahan, Serian, Julau, Meradong, Kuching, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu.
On April 18, Sarawak reported two Covid-19 clusters involving schools, namely the Jalan Bintulu-Sibu Cluster in Tatau stemming from a secondary school student who tested positive on April 10 and the Tarat Tani Cluster in Serian which stemmed from a housewife who tested positive and subsequently also affected a primary school and a secondary school in Tarat.
In Miri, the Miri Divisional Disaster Management Committee (Miri DDMC) also reported that there have been more than 400 students who have tested positive for the coronavirus so far. — DayakDaily
