TO deal with an upsurge in COVID-19 cases caused by the transmission of the XBB.1.16 variety, also referred to as Arcturus, the Health Ministry is planning on making face masks mandatory in schools.
According to the New Straits Times, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has stated that she will hold an urgent meeting with her Education Ministry counterpart, Fadlina Sidek before schools reopen on May 2.
As a preventive step, Dr Zaliha stated that any new guidelines and SOPs for pupils will be provided before school resumes.
“This is important. If any student gets infected after the Aidilfitri celebrations and travels, it may easily lead to an outbreak in schools,” she said, adding that the final decision was the Education Ministry’s to make.
“Parents need not panic when it comes to the spread of this new variant. However, we highly encourage all parties, including students, to continue wearing face mask to curb any infection.
“If they experience symptoms of COVID-19, they should wear a face mask and maintain social distancing as practised before this while also seeking medical help.”
Six cases of the Arcturus variety have been found in the Klang Valley, with the remaining six in Sarawak.
Arcturus is a subvariant of Omicron, which is claimed to be highly transmissible and resistant to vaccinations. It is thought to be the cause of the recent increase in infections in nations such as India.
According to Dr Zaliha, persons infected with the Omicron subvariant usually exhibit moderate symptoms and are in stable condition. – April 26, 2023
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