GEIS-新闻详情

S'pore pre-schools tighten Covid-19 measures

2021-07-22 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - Pre-schools are tightening their safe management rules from Thursday (July 22), in line with national phase two (heightened alert) guidelines, as large Covid-19 clusters emerged here recently.

In a letter to parents, the Early Childhood Development Agency (Ecda) said all parents, including those of newly enrolled children, will not be allowed to enter pre-school premises. Enrichment classes are also advised to move online to reduce transmission within and across pre-schools.

Only visitors needed to support the running of pre-schools and those who are needed to perform necessary functions, such as contractors and licensing officers, may enter the premises.

Children or staff with household members undergoing a mandatory Covid-19 swab test will be required to be placed on leave of absence until the household member's test results return negative.

This will allow for better ring-fencing, given the current heightened concerns, said Ecda.

Children or staff who receive a health risk warning from the Health Ministry will be put on leave of absence for the duration of the warning, and may return to school when they receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test result towards the end of the warning period.

A health risk warning is given to those identified as a casual contact of a Covid-19 case, or who have visited specific higher-risk hot spots on the same day as a Covid-19 case.

Children or staff with a household member who has been issued such a warning will also be placed on leave of absence until the household member receives a negative PCR test result.

If a child or staff member or their household members are issued with a health risk alert, they will be allowed to attend pre-school, if they are well.

However, they are strongly encouraged to be tested and minimise their social interactions for the duration specified by the Health Ministry.

A health risk alert is for people identified to have visited hot-spot areas or the vicinity.

For children or staff with any household member who is unwell with flu-like symptoms, they are strongly encouraged to stay home until the unwell household member tests negative for Covid-19.

Ecda also said it recognises that supplementary programmes which serve children with additional needs are especially important.

The Development Support and Learning Support, Development Support-Plus, and Focused Language Assistance in Reading programmes may therefore continue in-person programmes, subject to tightened safe management measures.