From Aug. 19, there will be a gradual easing of community safe management measures.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is amending its policies for students and staff who are placed on Leave of Absence (LOA) and Approved Absence (AA). These amendments will take effect from Aug.19.
Under these new amendments, there is no longer a fixed length of time for an LOA and AA, as it varies from case to case.
The ministry sent a letter to parents and guardians today (Aug. 18) about amendments made to the current Leave of Absence (LOA) and Approved Absence (AA) policies in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and the Millennia Institute.
Those under Leave of Absence (LOA)
This amendment applies to students and staff who are placed on LOA because they have a household member who has a Quarantine Order.
From Aug. 19, students and staff who are placed on LOA can return to school once one of the below conditions are met:
- If the household member who is serving a quarantine order at a government facility tests negative for Covid-19 and is well.
- If the household member who is serving a quarantine order at home tests negative for Covid-19 and MOH allows the other members to leave the house.
Those under Approved Absence (AA)
Students and staff will be issued an Approved Absence (AA) if they or their household members have to undergo mandatory testing due to a Covid-19 cluster. This includes those who receive a Health Risk Warning from MOH.
This group of students and staff under AA will be required to stay at home until they test negative for Covid-19. This does not include students with household members who are healthcare workers and other sectors who undergo rostered routine testing.
There will be no change for students who are issued AA because they have flu-like symptoms and have been placed on MC. They will be placed on AA for a further five days after the date of expiry of their MC.
Similarly, there will be no change for students who are issued AA because their household members have flu-like symptoms. They will be placed on AA and be required to stay at home until the unwell household member tests negative for Covid-19.
Top image via Chan Chun Sing/Facebook.