SIBU, March 19: Two schools, SK Abang Ali and SK St Mary have been ordered to close temporarily until end of the mid-term holiday on April 3.
Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee in a statement said the closure was due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 in the locality zone of the school.
“The two schools are located in Zone 9 Awang Ramli Amit and Zone 10 Kampung Dato which became a red zone after the recent increase in Covid-19 cases from Jalan Awang Cluster with a cumulative 52 cases and Jalan Kampung Hilir Cluster with a cumulative 43 cases,” it said.
The committee said SJK Methodist is also closed for two days for school disinfection activities and Covid-19 contact screening among school teachers and students.
“This is due to a teacher who was found positive after undergoing a “Rapid Antigen Test” at a private facility and was admitted to Sibu Hospital,” it added.
A total of 78 contacts among teachers and students have been identified and will undergo swab tests today and the day after.
However, parents can bring other children who are not case contacts for screening at the Lanang Health Clinic.
The committee emphasised that the handling of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for schools that have cases among teachers or students is a day or two closure for disinfection and investigation purposes and not for 14 days.
“Those with close contacts at the school will be screened and would be requested for isolation or quarantine by the Health Department, where schooling for such students can be continued through online learning. Non-case contact students may come to school as usual,” it said.
Currently, attendance at school is not compulsory.
If parents feel that it is not safe to send their children to school at this time, they can ask for PdPR which is teaching and learning at home.
The Committee reminded everyone that SOPs must be adhered to, especially SOPs in schools. — DayakDaily
