KEPALA BATAS: Parents of students of SK Permatang Janggus here have been told not to worry about sending their children to classes, despite a recent Covid-19 case involving a teacher at the school.
The school reopened today to Year Three to Year Six pupils after it was ordered closed for a week on Oct 1 after the teacher, in her 40s, contracted the virus.
A representative from the school's Parents-Teacher Association (PTA), who declined to be named, said parents should not worry as the school was thoroughly sanitised twice during its closure.
"At the same time, the existing standard operating procedures (SOP) have been tightened to ensure a safer environment.
"As such, parents and guardians have nothing to worry about," the representative said when met outside the school.
Nevertheless, he observed that the attendance of students was lower than usual.
"This is probably because the weekend is approaching. But we hope the attendance level will resume as usual next week."
Yesterday, some parents expressed concerns about sending their children back to school since the closure's duration was less than 14 days.
State Education Department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad had told the New Straits Times that only Year Three, Four, Five and Six pupils would resume schooling today.
As for Year One and Two pupils, they will only resume classes next Tuesday.
SK Permatang Janggus was closed for eight days, beginning Oct 1, after the female teacher tested positive for Covid-19.
The teacher was said to be feeling unwell and had sought treatment at a hospital in Kedah.
She is the wife of a politician from Kedah, who had gone for campaigning in Sabah during the recent state polls.
Nearly 400 pupils at the school were screened and told to observe home quarantine while awaiting results.
Last Saturday, three more positive Covid-19 cases were recorded in Penang, two of which had returned from Sabah, while another was from the new Bah Rose cluster, which also includes a 7-year-old from Permatang Janggus.
More than 1,000 villagers of Permatang Janggus have since taken extra precautionary measures to break the chain of infection.
Some told NST that they have opted to stay indoors and only leave their homes when necessary.
