Press Releases
Temporary Closure of The Orange Tree (CCK) Pte Ltd
09 Mar 2020
As announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) today, one of the new COVID- 19 cases confirmed today (Case 160) is a 5-year old child enrolled in The Orange Tree (CCK) Pte Ltd. The child is a family member of Case 145 who tested positive yesterday, 8 March 2020. He last attended preschool last week on 6 March 2020.2 In light of this, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has ordered the temporary closure of The Orange Tree (CCK) Pte Ltd from Tuesday, 10 March 2020 to Friday, 20 March 2020. This covers the 14-day incubation period as Case 160 was last in the preschool on 6 March 2020. All children, teachers and staff will be given a Leave of Absence during the closure period. The preschool will resume programmes on Saturday, 21 March 2020. Contact tracing is ongoing.
3 The Orange Tree (CCK) Pte Ltd will conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the preschool premises, and is closely monitoring its staff and parents on the health of their children. This is in addition to earlier precautionary measures that were implemented in accordance to MOH’s and ECDA’s guidelines. These include restriction of visitors, suspension of large group and communal activities as well as excursions and field trips, health checks and stepped up temperature screening for all children and staff.
4 ECDA is working with the preschool to engage parents on the precautionary measures. In accordance with MOH’s guidelines, staff and children are advised to stay at home during the closure period. Staff and children should avoid going to crowded places and attending social gatherings.
5 ECDA will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with the management, staff, parents and children at The Orange Tree (CCK) Pte Ltd to ensure the safety and wellbeing of 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.