PETALING JAYA: As schools reopen for physical classes, a spike in Covid-19 cases from school clusters may happen within the next two weeks if standard operating procedures are not strictly followed, say health experts.

       Universiti Putra Malaysia medical epidemiologist Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman believes that the critical period would be the next two to four weeks.

       “I hope all of us will continuously be in cautious mode as we are still not sure what is coming in the next one to two months.

       “In addition, as interstate travel may be allowed soon, the risk of infection may rise if the recommended SOP are being violated,” she said when contacted yesterday.

       However, she believes that the Covid-19 protocols for schools had been thoroughly thought out by the Education Ministry.

       “Apart from school staff and teachers, we also need cooperation from parents, support groups and communities to work together to prevent possible infections,” she said.

       Dr Malina added that special attention should be given to the unvaccinated groups, particularly those above aged 12 with underlying medical conditions.

       For these groups, she suggested that routine screening be conducted for a specific interval period to avoid clusters forming in schools.

       Physical classes resumed in Terengganu, Kelantan and Langkawi yesterday. Schools have been shut for more than six months due to the pandemic.

       Today, physical classes will begin in Phase Two and Phase Three states such as Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.

       Malaysia Medical Practitioners Coalition Association president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah also said it would take about two weeks to know if there would be Covid-19 outbreaks in schools.

       To prevent clusters from forming, allowing students back based on rotation would lessen contact.

       This he said, would ensure that there would be distancing among students.

       “Teachers too have to be vigilant to tell the students that they have to maintain cleanliness and maintain physical distancing.

       “It’s best for schools to have good ventilation by leaving all windows open in the classrooms,” he said, adding that teachers should be fully vaccinated and have passed the 14 days post-vaccination period.

       Parents, too, must carry out their responsibility by not sending their children to school if there is a close contact in the family who is Covid-19 positive or if their child has tested positive for the virus.

       Apart from adhering to the SOP, having a well-balanced diet is also crucial for growing children.

       Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Professor of Public Health Nutrition Dr Zaleha Md Isa said children must have a well-balanced diet so that they would have a stronger immune system.

       She noted that vitamins alone was not enough to boost their immune system.

       “They must take all varieties of food that they can get, especially fruits and vegetables,” she said.

       As schools have reopened globally as well, a surge in cases fuelled by the Delta variant has been reported.

       The Guardian newspaper reported that daily Covid-19 cases in Britain had risen after restrictions were lifted and as schools and offices reopened, with similar reports from the United States.

       The Wall Street Journal reported an increase in Covid-19 cases in school-going children in states where schools had reopened much earlier.