By TMR / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

SELANGOR Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) has denied ordering the closure of the Al Munawwarah Mosque in Section 27 in Shah Alam due to the Covid-19 infection.

This followed a media report stating that the mosque was closed temporarily when a member of its congregation was believed to be down with coronavirus after returning from Vietnam.

Bernama reported JAIS director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad as saying that there is no such directive issued by the department.

“No directive was issued for the mosque to close. The mosque will continue to open for all prayers,” he told Bernama when contacted.

Mohd Shahzihan advised the management of the mosque to seek the cooperation of their congregation, especially those with symptom of the coronavirus, or those having contacts with Covid-19 patients, to exercise self-quarantine and go for health screening to ensure they are free of the virus, as well as to adhere to the Health Ministry’s advice on the matter.

In Sarawak, all government and public gatherings involving the participation of more than 50 people in Sarawak must be postponed or deferred to a later date.

State Disaster Management Committee in a statement on Sunday said it was the latest policy implemented by the state in managing the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The action was taken as part of the efforts and measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” it said.

For the record, Sarawak registered 11 new Covid-19 positive cases, bringing the total to 20 cases (at press time) since last Friday when the first three cases were reported.

Additionally, the Sabah State Education Department has advised principals and teachers in the state to cancel all activities involving students, including extra classes during the current school holidays.

Its director Mistrine Radin said the directive had been issued to all schools by respective district education offices.

The cancellation of any programmes involving teachers and students is to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection, she said in a WhatsApp message to Bernama yesterday.

The first mid-term school break for B group, including Sabah, is for nine days from March 14 to 22.

Meanwhile, the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) has suggested the government to consider including Covid-19 in the list of infectious diseases that allow for quarantine leave.

CUEPACS president Adnan Mat said Covid-19 should be included in the Service Circular No 11 Year 2016, considering that the disease has been declared a pandemic.

The circular pertains to provision on quarantine leave for six infectious diseases, namely hand, foot and mouth disease; dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever; measles, chickenpox, diphtheria and malaria.

“CUEPACS also expresses its gratitude and appreciation to all employees involved in the handling of Covid-19 and hopes that they remain patient and continue to be dedicated to their work.

“CUEPACS acknowledges the hardship they are going through, yet make no complaints, despite having to work with no fixed time,” he said in a statement.

It also called for financial institutions to postpone and restructure loan repayments of civil servants and private sector employees whose income are affected by the Covid-19 infection.

“CUEPACS has also received numerous complaints from employees and people who lost their income — also those who are asked to go on temporary unpaid leave — as many companies and industries, are affected by Covid-19,” he added.