ALL primary schools in Sarawak, with the exception of 220 in selected Covid-19 red zone areas, will restart classes on Monday, said the state’s disaster management committee.

The committee reversed its February decision of delaying the reopening of schools in red zone districts to March 14.

Sarawak’s current nine red zone districts are Kuching, Samarahan, Selangau, Betong, Meradong, Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu and Miri.

Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah said in a statement today that after discussions with the state education department, it was agreed 1,045 government and government-aided primary schools can restart classes on Monday.

Uggah said the decision today meant 231 schools that were to be reopened on March 14 can begin classes on Monday.

Some schools in zones categorised as orange, yellow and green reopened, together with the rest of the nation on March 1.

Uggah said the risk assessment that was carried out showed the schools had fully met the Ministry of Education’s school management and operation guidelines in the new norm.

The majority of the 220 primary schools are in Sibu (93), Kanowit, Miri and Meradong (32), Bintulu (18), Kapit (one), Padawan (six), Betong (three) and three in Kuching.

Sarawak recorded 250 new cases today with Sibu still recording the highest number of infections with 123 news cases in the past 24 hours.

The districts with new cases are Meradong (36), Bintulu (21), Kuching (17), Kapit (17), Miri (14), Julau (seven), Serian (four), Daro (three), Asajaya (two), Samarahan (two), Selangau (two), Dalat (one) and Sri Aman (one).

There were no deaths reported. – March 5, 2021.