By Reza A Hamid
JASIN – Eleven female students from the Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Isnin Vocational College in Jasin have been tested positive of Covid-19, thus, created another dormitory education cluster in Melaka.
The State Health and Anti-Drug Exo, Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said that the index case was a 16 years-old female student who had symptoms on 12 January before the virus spread to her 10 room-mates as of yesterday.
According to him, 11 individuals were tested positive of the virus after a Covid-19 screening was conducted on 70 close contacts of the index case. 26 were tested negative while 33 others are still waiting for the result.
“The Jasin vocational college is the latest cluster after the Melaka Tengah vocational college, where 76 of its students were Covid-19 positive as of yesterday.
“The vocational college in Jasin is still open for now, however, it may be closed down if the number of positive students increases,” he said during a news conference at Japerun Merlimau, Lipat Kajang today.
Muhamad Akmal denied that the infections at the two vocational colleges are related. Early investigation did not reject the possibility that it was a sporadic case.
“We are still investigating. However, at the moment, we believe that the cause of infection may be sporadic case.
“Although the vocational college in Jasin is not closed, all 536 students and staff will be quarantined. They will be wearing the surveillance band until 23 January,” he said.
The media reported earlier today that 76 students from the Melaka Tengah Vocational College in Bukit Katil have been tested positive of Covid-19. Non-compliance to the standard operating procedures (SOP) could have sparked the infections.
Therefore, the education institution has been ordered to close since 14 January for 8 days until this Friday (21 January) after it was declared as the Jalan Tun Telani Cluster by the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday. -MalaysiaGazette
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76 vocational college students tested positive of Covid-19
