{
  "id": 15206404,
  "title": "Johor extends school closures until Oct 23 amid haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/johor-extends-school-closures-until-oct-23-amid-haze",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T13:39:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1557665/johor-extends-school-closures-until-oct-23-amid-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Johor state government in Malaysia has extended the closure of educational institutions until October 23 due to persistent haze and poor air quality. The decision was made at a state haze management coordination meeting chaired by Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, who prioritizes the safety, health, and wellbeing of Johor residents. Health authorities have expressed concern about the risks of prolonged exposure to air pollution, particularly among children and vulnerable groups, noting a 20.7 per cent increase in weekly cases of asthma and upper respiratory tract infections this month. The closure will depend on changes in air quality, weather forecasts, and health assessments, with limited exemptions possible for pupils sitting certain examinations or assessments. Private educational institutions and childcare centres can decide whether to operate or close, provided they operate indoors and require the use of face masks. The government acknowledges that the prolonged closure will affect pupils' and teachers' learning routines and the management of educational institutions, but emphasizes that pupils' safety and health must remain the priority.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}