A six-year-old female Singapore citizen is among the 344 new cases of COVID-19 infection reported as of noon on Monday (25 May).
The girl, identified as case 31745, reported onset of the symptoms on 20 May and was confirmed to have been infected of the virus on 24 May.
She is a close household contact of cases 30385 and 31141, and is linked to the CDPL Tuas Dormitory Cluster. Case 30385 is a 37-year-old man linked to the person who was deployed for operational duties at the dormitory.
As of 25 May, at least 61 children – aged 16 and below – have been confirmed to be infected by COVID-19 in Singapore. According to MOH, 57 of these children have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from the hospital.
None have been in the intensive care unit, the ministry added in a separate statement.
344 New Cases On May 25, National Total Now At 31,960
Of the 344 new cases reported, 338 are foreign workers residing in dormitories.
Summary of community cases announced on 25 May. | Image source: Ministry of Health
Among the six community cases, four are Singaporeans/Permanent Residents while two are Work Permit holders.
The total tally of COVID-19 cases in Singapore now stands at 31,960.
MOH Lists Public Places Visited by Community Cases During Infectious Period
For the first time, MOH released a list of the public places visited by COVID-19 community cases for more than 30 minutes.
On the list on Monday were NTUC FairPrice supermarket and the Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street, both at Jurong Point Shopping Centre in 1 Jurong West Cental 2.
“As a precautionary measure, persons who had been at these locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days
from their date of visit,” MOH said. It also urges those who may have been exposed to see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history.”
More Preschool Staff Members Test Positive
Three more preschool staff members were among the six community cases announced on Monday.
One of them. is a 25-year-old female Singapore citizen who had gone to work at Learning Vision @ NUHS.
The other two, a 23-year-old female Singapore citizen and a 44-year-old Chinese national. According to MOH, neither of the two cases had not gone to work recently.
The three cases were picked up as a result of proactive screening of all preschool staff which started on 15 May and is expected to be completed at the end of the month.
Ahead of the reopening of preschools on 2 June, all preschools and Early Intervention staff are undergoing a one-time swab test. | Image source: Facebook/Minister Desmond Lee
On Saturday (23 May), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said they are now “midway through the mass testing exercise.“
In a WhatsApp message from Gov.sg on 26 May, it said 8 out of 16,000 preschool teachers have tested positive.
Separately, ECDA said “more than 99% of all preschool staff who have undergone testing so far have tested negative.”
Singapore Schools To Reopen On June 2
Singapore schools will reopen on 2 June, as the country exits circuit breaker period, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced Tuesday (19 May).
The graduating cohorts in Primary 6, Secondary 4 and 5 will be attending school from Monday to Friday, while all other students will alternate weekly between home-based learning and classes in school.
In addition, preschools and early intervention (EI) centres will also start to reopen from 2 June, and will reopen in phases, the ECDA said.
Children in Kindergarten 1 and 2 will be allowed to return from 2 June, while those in Nursery 1 and 2 will return to the centres from 8 June.
Meanwhile, children in infant care and playgroup will be able to return from 10 June.
In a Facebook post. Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung acknowledges that though strict safety measures are put in place, some parents will be worried.
“Many students will be excited to return to school. Parents may be looking forward to school opening too, especially if they have to return to work. But I am sure parents are also worried about their children’s safety,” Mr Ong said. “Rest assured that we will take whatever precautions we can to ensure the well-being of all students and staff.”
Separately, ECDA said the phased reopening “will better enable preschools to ensure that staff, children and parents adhere to the enhanced safe management measures which we refer to as ‘COVID-Safe ABCs.'” COVID-Safe ABCs refer to safety measures for daily routines in terms of Access, Behaviours and Classrooms.
Features image source: National University Hospital (NUH) Facebook
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