Universiti Utara Malaysia Closes Kedah Campus After Student Tests Positive For Covid-19

With many individuals returning from Sabah to various states in the country, there have been many new Covid-19 cases surfacing in different locations.

University Utara Malaysia (UUM) has closed its main campus in Sintok, Kedah with immediate effect since the night of 4 October after a student who just returned from Sabah tested positive for Covid-19.

According to UUM Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani, the student was involved in Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU) training and had arrived on campus early.

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He said that after the infection was detected, the university took the necessary steps to control the spread by carrying out immediate closures and banning activities from entering and leaving the campus.

“This group is not big, it only involves those involved in PALAPES training. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also been informed about this to determine the next step,” he said.

“We fully cooperate and will follow all standard operating procedures (SOP) recommended by the MOH and National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) including the mandatory quarantine measures necessary for all individuals involved.”

He added that for now, all new students who want to register are not allowed to enter the campus but will be allowed to register online instead.

“We will also conduct learning sessions online. No one is allowed to return to campus. After everything calms down and is controlled, we will inform the students when the admission date to campus is allowed,” he said.

According to Berita Harian, the student had arrived at UUM on 20 September before the government required all individuals who had returned from Sabah to undergo a swab test upon arrival and quarantine at their respective homes.

UUM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs), Associate Professor Dr Hendrik Lamsali previously said that the campus postponed the admission of students from Sabah until a date that will be announced later.

He said the postponement included the registration of students from red zone areas in other states, which was made following the increase in Covid-19 cases in several states as well as concerns over the students’ safety.

Also read: UniSZA Closes All 3 Campuses In Terengganu After Staff Tests Positive For Covid-19