GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE STANDARD GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE

SERDANG (Malaysia), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said
standard guidelines will be announced Wednesday for school closures due to
Influenza A(H1N1).

"The Health Ministry's technical committee will be meeting tomorrow to make
sure the guidelines are comprehensive. We will announce the measures Wednesday
and will also inform the Education Ministry," he said after a visit to Serdang
Hospital near Kuala Lumpur to see for himself the treatment of A(H1N1) patients.


Liow said the new guidelines would standardise the current practice as the
government moved into the mitigation phase of the pandemic.

He added that there had been changes to the pandemic situation. "We need new
guidelines to ensure schools and universities will have the same standard
operating procedure for the closure."

Currently, schools use different response to the threat, with some shutting
down if there were students with flu-like symptoms.

Due to the spike in H1N1 cases, Liow reminded private doctors and hospitals
to use the approved rapid test system to help the government battle the
pandemic.

"From now on, doctors are allowed to use the rapid test on A(H1N1) suspects
so that antiviral treatment can be given as quickly as possible," he said.

Liow also sought the cooperation of suppliers not to hike up the price of
face masks.

"This is for national security, everybody should contribute and help. If the
price of masks is going up, I think it's uncalled for.

"Suppliers should be more responsible and should not increase the price," he
said.
-- BERNAMA