KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 -- Despite receiving numerous requests from parents to allow daycare centres to reopen, the Health Ministry remains very apprehensive about the issue and is keen to study the matter further before reaching a decision.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told the daily Covid-19 press conference today that the ministry is still examining new and innovative ways to allow pre-schools to reopen.

"We are studying the requests and the Health Ministry is very concerned and worried about managing the children there. There are still outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease at these centres.

"Infections happen easily at these centres - unless we limit how the children are looked after... maybe a one-on-one o...