Covid-19: Over 400 students infected in Miri, schools advised to close for 14 days

- ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / THE STAR

KUCHING: More than 400 students in Miri have been infected with Covid-19, leading to a recommendation for schools to be closed for 14 days.

The Miri divisional disaster management committee said 13% of its cumulative 3,253 positive cases were of school-going age.

"As medical facilities at Miri Hospital and quarantine and treatment centre are almost reaching full capacity, the committee decided that schools in Miri should be temporarily closed for face-to-face teaching for 14 days.

"They should revert to teaching and learning at home as soon as possible to curb the spread of the virus in schools.

"The situation will be reviewed after 14 days," said minister-in-charge Datuk Lee Kim Shin in a statement on Sunday (April 18).

He noted that the majority of schools in Miri district had over 1,000 students, while one secondary school had over 3,000 students.

In addition, Lee said the committee recommended the temporary closure of schools in the neighbouring Subis and Beluru districts, which were also categorised as red zones with high numbers of positive cases.

He said the committee's recommendation had been conveyed to the Education Department and state disaster management committee.

"I hope the state education director will give due consideration and approve the request as Miri is a red zone and the recent rising number of cases involves students and teachers," he added.

There were 67 new cases in Miri on Sunday (April 18), 17 in Subis and three in Beluru.