Press Releases

Advisory to Parents: Keeping Our Children Safe - Novel Coronavirus in China

14 Feb 2020

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Keeping Our Children Safe - Novel Coronavirus in China

In view of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has advised all preschools to exercise greater caution to ensure the health and wellbeing of children in preschools. Measures taken by preschools include the following:

a. Health checks and temperature screening for all children, staff and visitors
b. Detection and isolation of any child or staff who are ill, and to advise them to see a doctor immediately
c. Good personal hygiene practices for children and staff
d. Good environmental hygiene in preschools
e. Preschool staff to avoid travel to Hubei Province, where Wuhan city is located. All travellers to monitor their health closely for 2 weeks upon return to Singapore.

2   Everyone has a part to play in keeping our children safe and healthy. We encourage parents/guardians to work closely with your child’s preschool on the following:

☑ Practise good personal hygiene with your child

• Have your child cover his/her mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, and to throw away the tissue immediately into a bin;
  
• Wash hands frequently with soap, especially before eating or handling food, after toilet visits, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing; and
  
• Not to share food/drinks, eating utensils, toothbrushes or towels with others.

☑ Seek medical attention promptly if your child is unwell

• Monitor your child’s health closely. Look out for symptoms such as fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath).
  
• If your child is sick, please bring your child to see a doctor immediately.
  
• Allow your child to stay at home to rest and to return to school only when he or she has fully recovered.

☑ Declare your travel plans with your child

• To keep our preschools safe for all children and staff, please declare to your child’s preschool your travel plans with your child. The preschool will contact you, if you have not already done so. (All staff of your preschool are also required to declare their travel plans.)

3   We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates, if necessary.

Thank you.

Early Childhood Development Agency​​​​

Click here​ for updates on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019).​​​​