THE Health Ministry needs at least a week before it can make an assessment on whether students stuck at campuses nationwide under the movement-control order (MCO) should be allowed to travel home.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the third phase of the MCO, which is now extended until April 28, is vital to break the chain of Covid-19 infections. 

“Our recommendation is to be patient. We are entering an important phase – if we wish to maintain what control we have in lowering the number of infections. 

“So we advise the Higher Education Ministry to wait a week or two. After going over the data, we can give our recommendations,” he said at the daily press briefing on Covid-19 today.

Dr Noor Hisham was asked about calls by parents and student groups who are urging the government to allow students to return home, possibly in stages.  

There are an estimated 80,000 students stuck in their respective campuses nationwide. 

The Higher Education Ministry last night said it would raise the matter with the National Security Council.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier today said the government would take the advice of the Health Ministry on the matter.

He expressed concern over the Higher Education Ministry’s request to allow students to leave campuses, saying it risked the spread of the coronavirus to their respective hometowns and villages nationwide. 

Earlier today, a coalition of student groups issued a statement, urging the government to allow those stuck on campus to return to their home states in stages, in view of the extended MCO.

It also called on the Higher Education Ministry, public universities and state governments to work together to provide special transport for these students.

Students have been stuck on campus since the MCO began on March 18.

The extension of the order until April 28 eats into the first few days of Ramadan, which begins on April 23. – April 11, 2020.