5 Kedah schools closed, lockdown in four areas
Kedah state government takes action after 11 cases reported in Sivagangga cluster centred on nasi kandar shop.
PETALING JAYA: Five schools in Kedah have been closed and a partial lockdown ordered in four localities within a 1km radius of a nasi kandar shop which is the centre of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Earlier today, the health ministry reported 11 new cases in the “Sivagangga cluster”, which refers to patients infected after a restaurant owner failed to remain in home quarantine after returning from abroad. Two of the cases were primary school pupils.
The Kedah state government has declared a targeted enhanced movement control order in mukims Ah, Hosba, and Binjal in Kubang Pasu, and Kampung Ulu Padang Sanai in Padang Terap, state government sources said.
Five schools are to be closed for 14 days. They are SMK Hosba, SK Hosba, SMK Megat Dewa and SK Megat Dewa in Kubang Pasu and SK Kubang Palas in Padang Terap.
Teachers in the lockdown areas have been barred from going to work. However, teachers who live and teach outside the area, as well as essential workers, are allowed to pass through the lockdown area.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today 20 people in the Sivagangga cluster had been found to have been infected with Covid-19, out of 313 people screened. Results on 13 cases were being awaited. The 20 positive cases comprise 15 Malaysians and five foreigners.
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