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SINGAPORE – Starting Friday (May 15), all preschool staff in Singapore will be screened for COVID-19 before the preschool centers reopen on June 2, The Straits Times reported Thursday.
The cost of one-time swab testing will be borne by the government, ECDA head of licensing Jamie Ang said in a circular addressed to operators on Wednesday.
Those to be evaluated include principals, teachers, and caregivers of infants and toddlers, as well as other staff members, such as cleaners and cooks. Relief and new personnel starting work in June will also be evaluated before starting work.
There are about 25,000 teachers and program staff in the preschool sector.
The tests will be carried out by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) between Friday and May 26, in four polytechnic cleaning centers, located in segregated areas of the rest of the campus.
Citing the circular, ST reported that group tests will be used, where swab samples from up to five individuals will be analyzed in one batch, rather than individually.
Most staff will only need to do a swab test, but some may have to return for a second individual test if the first batch test is positive, Ang said. Children will not be evaluated as the cases have shown that they are generally infected by adults and not by their peers.
People at increased risk of infection, such as children and staff returning from Stay Home Notices, may have to undergo further testing before being able to return to work.
Protecting vulnerable groups
Several preschoolers had to close after reporting COVID-19 infections, including Learning Vision @ Work at the National University Hospital Medical Center and My First Skool at 295A Compassvale Crescent
As of May 7, about 57 children ages 16 and under had been infected.
Testing is the latest precautionary measure to keep the preschool community safe, such as restricting visitors and suspending group and community activities.
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