PETALING JAYA: Covid-19 nasal swab tests are not allowed in schools, says the Education Ministry.
The ministry stressed that all Covid-19 tests carried out in schools registered under them must only be saliva tests.
This comes after a photo titled “Teachers conduct practical training (latihan amali) by swabbing students in a school” went viral on social media.
“We want to emphasise that Covid-19 screenings in all schools under the ministry must use saliva test kits only.
“The use of nasal swab test kits is not allowed and is not in accordance with the ministry’s instructions through a letter dated Nov 28.
“The ministry investigated the photo, which went viral, and found that it involved a Covid-19 screening in a school in Pahang,” it said in a statement on Dec 8.
A total of 16 students at the school were selected at random to undergo a saliva test, the ministry said, adding that, however, a nasal swab demonstration was conducted and involved four teachers and four students who were assisted by two community nurses.
According to the letter issued by the ministry, the implementation of Covid-19 self-tests for primary school pupils only involves the use of saliva kits provided by the ministry, it added.
“These self-tests are done by the pupils as monitored by their teachers,” the ministry said.
Source: The Star
