A TOTAL of 180 Community Development Department (Kemas) preschools and nurseries have been closed due to the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) as of yesterday.

Rural Development Minister Mahdzir Khalid said the closure involved 105 preschools and 75 nurseries throughout the country, except for Negri Sembilan and Malacca.

“The decision was made on the advice and recommendations of the Health Ministry (MOH) as each case detected has been reported to the authorities,” he told reporters after attending a get-together and Aidilfitri celebration with Pahang Kemas staff in Kuantan today. 

“These premises will be closed for 10 days and appropriate actions, including disinfection work, will be carried out by Kemas officials.”

He said during the closure period, home-based teaching and learning sessions will be conducted based on the experience during the Covid-19 epidemic.

He also assured that Kemas will monitor the situation and take proactive measures to curb the spread of the disease on its premises based on standard operating procedures set by MOH.

He said body temperature scanning and checks for other HFMD symptoms such as rashes or blisters on the skin and mouth ulcer will be carried out at the entrance to the premises.

“We hope all parents will help us curb the spread of HFMD by ensuring their children are healthy and do not have any symptoms,” he said.

“If they have symptoms, then parents should not send them to nurseries or preschools as a preventive measure.”

Kemas has 10,765 preschools and 549 nurseries nationwide. – Bernama, May 28, 2022.