Singapore pre-school staff to be tested for COVID-19 before centres reopen: report
SINGAPORE — From Friday (15 May), all pre-school staff in Singapore will be tested for COVID-19 ahead of the reopening of pre-school centres on 2 June, The Straits Times reported on Thursday.
The cost of the one-time swab tests will be borne by the government, said the Early Childhood Development Agency's (ECDA) chief licensing officer Jamie Ang in a circular to operators on Wednesday.
Those to be tested include principals, teachers and those who look after infants and toddlers, as well as other staff like cleaners and cooks. Relief and new staff starting work in June will also be tested before they begin work.
There are some 25,000 teaching and programme staff in the pre-school sector.
The tests will be conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) between Friday and 26 May, at four swabbing centres in polytechnics, located in areas segregated from the rest of the campus.
Citing the circular, ST reported that pool testing will be used, where swab samples from up to five individuals will tested in one batch, instead of individually.
Most staff will only need to do one swab test, but some may have to return for a second individual test if the first batch test is positive, said Ang. Children will not be tested as cases have shown they are typically infected by adults, and not by their peers.
Those at higher risk of infection, such as children and staff returning from Stay Home Notices, may have to undergo further testing before they are allowed to return to work.
Protecting vulnerable groups
Several pre-schools had to be closed after reporting COVID-19 infections, including Learning Vision@Work at National University Hospital Medical Centre and My First Skool at 295A Compassvale Crescent
Until 7 May, some 57 children aged 16 and younger had been infected.
The tests are the latest precautionary measures to keep the pre-school community safe, such as the restriction of visitors and the suspension of large group and communal activities.
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