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The Ministry of Education (KPM) said schools are not allowed to carry out Covid-19 screening using nasal swabs.
According to Bernama, the Covid-19 screenings in all schools under KPM must be conducted using saliva test kits only.
Testing using nasal swabs is not in accordance with the ministry’s instructions in a letter dated 28 November.
KPM said this in response to a viral photo titled ‘Teachers conduct practical training by swabbing students in a school.’
Investigations found that the nasal swab test took place in a school in Pahang.
16 students were selected at random to undergo the Covid-19 screening using saliva test kits.
However, a nasal swab was also conducted on four students and four teachers by two community nurses.
The letter issued by KPM further stated that the screening test for primary school students must be done on a rotation basis with at least 10% of students.
Previously, New Straits Times reported that KPM will supply saliva test kits to all schools nationwide.
Students in full boarding schools are required to undergo three Covid-19 tests while students attending daily boarding schools only need to be tested once.
For daily schools, there are self-test kits on standby in case any student shows symptoms while in school and be isolated quickly if they test positive.
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