There are no Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infections at Jeddah schools, a senior city health official said here recently.

Sami Badawood, Jeddah health director, said students could stay safe by maintaining proper hygiene and keeping away from crowded areas. He said health facilities in Jeddah are fully equipped to treat infected people.

He urged the public to ignore rumors on social media websites because they are aimed at causing fear.

Badawood was speaking at the launch of a citywide school health awareness program. The event was held at the Prince Sultan school complex with Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, the local director general of education, city education officials, teachers and students.

During his visit, Al-Thaqafi toured the primary section where he inspected the clinic and honored health supervisors. He also visited the intermediate section and delivered a lecture.

Abdulrahman bin Saad Al-Sahafi, public relations director and spokesman for the Jeddah health directorate, said there is coordination with the education department in holding awareness programs on MERS and other diseases.

Al-Sahafi said the Jeddah health department has distributed many educational brochures with medical information and illustrations for pupils. It also gave away boxes of tissue paper especially manufactured for the campaign.

The awareness program comes in the wake of people on social networking websites urging the government to close schools temporarily, or taking measures to bring the examination dates forward. Some parents have kept their children at home.