Sivagangga cluster: Targeted enhanced MCO in Kedah, 5 schools closed

CORONAVIRUS | The Kedah state government will be implementing a targeted enhanced movement control order (MCO) in four localities, in an effort to rein in the Sivagangga cluster which recorded 11 new cases today.

Meanwhile, the state education department will close five schools for 28 days, also in relation to the case. Two of the cluster's cases reported today were primary school students.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (above) decided the localities under the targeted lockdown are Ah, Hosba, and Binjal in Kubang Pasu, and Kampung Ulu Padang Sanai in Padang Terap.

According to Astro Awani, the targeted enhanced MCO will involve high traffic areas in a 1km radius from a nasi kandar restaurant in Hosba.

Meanwhile, of the schools being closed are SMK Hosba, SK Hosba, SMK Megat Dewa, SK Megat Dewa in Kubang Pasu and SK Kubang Palas in Padang Terap.

The schools will be closed for 14 days for a quarantine period, and another 14 days for an observation period.

It was reported that teachers living inside the temporary enhanced MCO areas have been barred from going to work by the National Security Council.

Only teachers who live and teach outside the area, as well as essential workers, are allowed to pass through the lockdown area.

The Sivagangga cluster has 20 cases thus far, making it the fourth largest active cluster at the moment.

The cluster started with an index patient, a restaurant owner, who did not comply with a home quarantine order after returning from abroad.

Earlier today, the Health Ministry said it had screened 313 people, of which 280 have tested negative. - Mkini