Dr Lee Boon Chye said such a directive is not based on science but seems to be a panic response over the growing number of cases in schools.

Lee said that in the case of a student infected with Covid-19, the close contacts must be tested and isolated for 10 days.

“The classroom and common areas should undergo sanitation. Hence, the class should be closed not just for two days for sanitation purposes but for up to 10 days until the closed contacts are freed from isolation,” he said.

He said it would be “irrational and disruptive” to close the entire school just for a single case and that it could cause panic among parents.

“This directive from the education ministry is not helpful in allaying fears. It just causes more panic among the teachers and parents.

“Schools should only be closed when there are confirmed cases in multiple classrooms,” he said.

Lee said lessons must not be conducted in unventilated air-conditioned classrooms to reduce Covid-19 transmission.

As transmission is more likely in crowded situations, he said, activities in common areas, such as recess at the school canteen, should be prolonged.

“Schools should spread out the recess interval as well as the ending time for students. Activities at common areas should be minimised now until we have better control of the pandemic.”

He also urged the government to immediately make it mandatory for schools to conduct blended learning, a combination of face-to-face classes and online classes.

“The government should reduce the number of school days from five to three, with the remaining two days being for remote learning, or guided self-learning,” he said.

Meanwhile, Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen has called for the government to provide full data of Covid-19 positive cases in schools.

“This is to enable parents, teachers, staff and students to make a fully-informed decision whether to run the risk of infection. Only they can make such a decision, not the government.

“The prime minister must make immediate announcements and provide complete information to the parents, students, teachers and staff of Covid-19 cases in the schools concerned,” he said in a statement.