Press Releases
Confirmed Covid 19 Cases at Little Gems Preschool Pte Ltd at 3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62
06 Apr 2020
CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES AT LITTLE GEMS PRESCHOOL PTE LTD AT 3 ANG MO KIO STREET 62 #01-09, LINK@AMK, SINGAPORE 569139 (“CENTRE”)
On 4 April 2020, a teaching staff at Little Gems Preschool Pte Ltd tested positive for COVID-19. She was last in the Centre on Tuesday, 31 March 2020. As a precautionary measure, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) had directed that the Centre be temporarily closed from 5 April 2020 to 14 April 2020. This covers the 14-day incubation period as the staff was last in the Centre on 31 March 2020. All children and staff in the Centre were also placed on LOA. Children and staff who have been in close contact with the confirmed cases have been placed on home quarantine.
2 On 5 April 2020, a relief teacher of the Centre was tested positive for COVID-19. The teacher was last in the Centre on 31 March 2020. She had cleared the health checks and was well when she ended her shift.
3 Today, MOH has announced that a 2-year old child tested positive for COVID-19. Her last day in school was 3 April 2020. She had cleared the health checks and was well throughout her full-day in preschool. She developed symptoms on the following day, 4 April 2020.
4 In view of the above, ECDA has extended the closure of the Centre to 17 April 2020. This is to cover the 14-day incubation period as the child was last in the Centre on 3 April 2020. Barring any further developments, the Centre will resume limited service operations on Saturday, 18 April 2020, unless otherwise advised, to serve the limited group of parents who are working in essential services and are unable to extend their alternative care arrangements beyond the closure period.
5 ECDA will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with the management, staff, parents and children at the Centre to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.
6 All preschools are reminded to be vigilant when conducting health checks, and to observe high standards of personal and environmental hygiene. This includes keeping the centre environment clean, and frequent washing of hands with soap – especially before eating or handling food, after toilet visits, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing.
7 The precautionary measures that have been put in place in preschools are only effective if the preschool community work together and exercise social responsibility. All preschool staff and children who are unwell (i.e. have fever and/or flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) should seek immediate medical attention and return to school only when fully recovered.