KUALA LUMPUR: In the first week after schools reopened this year, the country has recorded 52 education clusters, where 30 of them or 57.7 per cent came from secondary schools.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said of the 30 schools, 27 were boarding schools.
"The school session began on Jan 9 and 10, according to the states, and the gathering of students has increased the risk of transmission, resulting in 15 new education clusters in the first week of schooling.
"In the second week of schooling, the number of education clusters has doubled to 33.
"All states have reported education clusters except Perlis, Terengganu, Sarawak and Labuan," he told a press conference in Parliament today.
Khairy said of the 52 education clusters, index cases came from students (44 cases), teachers or lectures (five) and support staff (three).
He said among the risk factors contributing to the education clusters at boarding schools were non-compliance with standard operating procedures (SOP) during and outside formal school hours, especially at dormitories where wearing of face masks was not at the optimal level, no social distancing and while taking part in activities at the mosque.
Other factors, Khairy said, included failure by the students to inform the supervisors at the onset of symptoms, symptomatic teachers who attended classes, students undergoing quarantine who did not comply with the quarantine instructions, areas at schools not disinfected regularly, and inadequate ventilation system.
He said district health officers were reminded to conduct investigation and risk assessment should there be any positive cases reported at schools or educational institutions.
"Cleaning and disinfection work as well as close contact tracing should be carried out in addition to the implementation of Covid-19 control and prevention measures," he said.
He said the ministry would discuss with the Education Ministry on ways to strengthen control and prevention activities of Covid-19 infection at educational institutions.
Meanwhile, Khairy said there was no need to close boarding schools despite the spike in Covid-19 cases.
"We are at the stage where 90 per cent of our adolescents have been vaccinated. Infections are bound to happen and we cannot run from it. Furthermore, the symptoms were mild (for those vaccinated).
"As such, there is no need for a blanket ruling to close boarding schools. Let's not burden our students and parents. We want schools to be open and we want the students to be at schools.
"We have to progress forward and trust the effectiveness of the vaccines and public health measures."
