Schools in several states have been instructed to close down for two days following the detection of positive COVID-19 cases.

The Star reported that a circular by the Selangor Education Department has informed of the closure of 79 schools in the state, today and tomorrow (April 27).

Nineteen of the schools closed are in the Hulu Langat district, 18 in Petaling Perdana, 15 in Klang, nine each in Gombak and Petaling Utama districts, five schools in the Hulu Selangor district, and two each in Sepang and Kuala Langat districts.

Meanwhile, Astro Awani reported that 20 schools in Penang has been closed for the same period of time, after COVID-19 cases were reported.

Students from the schools will have to undergo learning from home during the two-days closure, the portal quoted state Education Director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad as saying.

In Negeri Sembilan meanwhile, five schools have been ordered closed after reporting COVID-19 cases among its students and teachers.

According to Sinar Harian, at least 25 people people have tested positive in the schools - two of which are in Seremban, and three each in Jempol, Port Dickson and Kuala Pilah. At least 200 others have been summoned for screening.

Last week, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mah Hang Soon was quoted telling a Chinese daily that schools will be ordered to close for at least two days, even if there is one case reported in its premises.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba revealed early last week that there until Apr 20, there have been 83 COVID-19 clusters linked to the education sector, involving 4,686 cases.

The rate of closures have caused concern among many parents, who have either stopped sending their children to school, or are questioning if an outbreak is needed before their children's schools are closed, and lessons from home are resumed.

Malaysia has been consistently recording a high number of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks.

Yesterday, a total of 2,690 new cases and 10 deaths were reported, bringing the total number of infections and fatalities in the country to 392,942 and 1,436, respectively.

The coronavirus has infected more than 147 million people, and killed over 3.1 million, worldwide.


Source: The Star, Astro Awani, Sinar Harian
Photo source: Bernama via Free Malaysia Today