Sabah minister: We will contain spread of Covid-19 at schools

KOTA KINABALU: Authorities will undertake all that is necessary to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, including at schools.

Sabah Community Development and People's Wellbeing minister Shahelmy Yahya said this in response to the rising Covid-19 infections especially those involving schools in the East Malaysian state.

"There are cases at schools, which include SMK Agama Kota Kinabalu which is now under Enhanced Movement Control Order and also another one in Papar which is being monitored by the Health Ministry.

"The Covid-19 management committee will monitor such incidents from time to time and will make decisions on preventive measures and sanitation," he said.

Shahelmy said this after launching the second phase state-level Covi-19 immunisation programme at the state Federal Administrative Complex multipurpose hall here.

He represented Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Present were state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong and state Health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.

Apart from SMK Agama Kota Kinabalu, the state also reported a cluster involving a boarding school in Sandakan and a pregnant primary school teacher in Tawau also becoming an index case for the Batu 10 area in the coastal town.

WhatsApp messages from several schools in the city indicating Covid-19 cases involving either teachers or students are also increasingly making their rounds.

Meanwhile, on the incident of vaccinated frontliners getting infected by Covid-19, Shahelmy said there are six such cases in the state.

"It was due to close contacts, they were tested positive for Covid-19 after less than a week of being inoculated.

"Although it would not be 100 per cent (guarantee) of not being infected, the vaccine could help to boost immune response," he said, adding people should continue to abide by the standard operating procedures even after being vaccinated.

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