PETALING JAYA, Apr 21 (Sin Chew Daily) – The education ministry has instructed that beginning today, any school reporting at least one positive COVID-19 case will have to be closed immediately for at least two days, and the students affected will switch to home learning during school closure.

Deputy education minister Datuk Mah Hang Soon told Sin Chew Daily this decision was made in a high-level ministry meeting chaired by senior minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

He said during the two-day school closure, district health officials would visit the school and conduct a risk assessment before deciding whether to extend the closure or to resume class after two days.

Mah said his ministry had been monitoring the pandemic situation at schools since the school reopening, and had been working very closely with the health ministry on handling schools reporting positive COVID-19 cases.

As for himself, he said he had contacted various organizations such as Jiao Zong, Dong Zong, Malaysia Chinese Language Council, National Union of School Heads and several parents organizations on this matter.

However, Mah insisted that the decision would be submitted to the National Security Council (MKN) for final approval, and that any changes to the details would be announced by MKN.