The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development will be implementing measures starting Feb. 5, 2020 to protect school students and staff.

The ministries said on Feb. 4 that large group and communal activities such as flag-raising assemblies, camps and mass celebrations will be suspended.

To avoid the congregation of large groups, recess times in schools will be staggered, while co-curricular activities and after-school programmes may continue in smaller groups.

These new measures will apply to primary and secondary schools, Special Education (SPED) schools, Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute.

Health checks and temperature screening for all children, staff and visitors will continue.

The frequency of temperature taking for children and staff will be increased.

These additional measures will allow MOE and MSF to mitigate the potential risks posed when students gather in large numbers, while enabling schools and preschools to continue with a majority of their usual learning and activities.

Schools and preschools will closely monitor the health of students and staff, and advise them to see a doctor immediately if they are sick.

MOE and MSF will continue to monitor the situation closely, and will implement further measures should the situation escalate.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will also step up precautionary measures in all preschools.

Measures will also apply to specific social services for vulnerable groups such as residential facilities and disability day centres.

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