Melaka mulling compounds for educational institutions which do not observe SOP

MELAKA: The Melaka Government is considering issuing compounds to educational institutions after five schools and a vocational college here recorded a number of Covid-19 cases.

Melaka health and anti-drug committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman (pic) said the compounds could be issued if they were found not to have observed standard operating procedures (SOP).

"We will also propose the same compounds for government departments, factories as well as the private sector," he said at his service centre in Ayer Molek here on Thursday (April 22).

Rahmad said the compounds would be issued under the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.

He said there was a possibility that an enhanced movement control order (EMCO) could be implemented in areas close to the Datuk Seri Mohd Zain Vocational College (KVDSMZ) in Alor Gajah after 37 students there tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday (April 21).

"However, we need to evaluate the situation thoroughly before recommending an EMCO," he said. KVDSMZ is temporarily closed until May 4.

The college saw the first infection in a student who returned to its hostel after going into a Covid-19 red zone on April 16.

After the first case at the college, health authorities carried out swab tests on 196 teachers and students, with 37 positive results, leading to the temporary closure.

Rahman also expressed concern over the increasing number of local transmissions due to interstate travel.

He added that the Pengkalan Batik cluster was one instance of this which led to community infection.