A teacher at a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots centre was tested positive for Covid-19 on Mar. 23, a PCF spokesperson confirmed with Mothership.

Nursery Two teacher infected

The patient is a Nursery Two teacher at the pre-school at 126 Bedok North Street 2.

Although the teacher was on leave from Mar. 18 to Mar. 20, she appeared at the centre on Wednesday for a few hours to attend to some work-related matters.

However, these matters did not involve conducting lessons or interacting with students, according to Marini Khamis, PCF's Senior Director of the Preschool Management Division.

At that point in time, she was not ill and had cleared the necessary health checks and temperature screening.

However, she developed symptoms on Mar. 20 and went to see a doctor.

She tested positive on Mar. 23.

The pre-school has since been closed on Tuesday for thorough cleaning and disinfection.

The Ministry of Health is also conducting contact tracing and if there are no further developments, classes at the centre will resume on Mar. 25.

The teacher's last contact with the pre-school was two days before the onset of symptoms. As such, there is no need to close the centre for 14 days, the statement added.

Precautionary measures in place

Parents of the centre have been informed through telephone calls from PCF's staff and teachers, and through the Parent Engagement Portal.

They have also been advised to closely monitor the health of their children and to take them to a doctor if they become unwell.

Precautionary measures have previously been implemented at all PCF Sparkletots centres in accordance with directives by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Marini added.

The frequency of temperature screening has been increased, and large group activities suspended at the pre-school.

Regular cleaning and sanitising of frequently touched surfaces, toys and shared items have also been carried out.

All non-essential visits to the centres have been suspended during this period to minimise the risk of community transmission.

Large group activities and excursions have also been suspended to minimise exposure of children and staff to large crowds.

Currently, children and staff will not be allowed to enter the centre if they show any signs or symptoms of being unwell. This is part of the daily health screening process.

According to an ECDA advisory, pre-schools are advised to stagger meal times to reduce the number of large communal gatherings and activities.

Parents are also encouraged to pick up and drop off their children outside the centre and to stand a distance apart from each other when waiting outside.

Top photo from Pikku Bunneh / FB