Covid-19: All PCF centres to be suspended from March 26 to 29, after new cluster at Fengshan branch

For updates on Covid-19, join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/todayonlinesg 

SINGAPORE — All PAP Community Foundation (PCF) centres will be closed from Thursday to Sunday (March 26 to 29), in order to disinfect the premises and to “review and reiterate” Covid-19 precautionary measures with the staff, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).

The move follows the discovery of a new cluster of Covid-19 cases at the PCF Sparkletots Preschool at Fengshan on Wednesday. A total of 18 cases — 14 of whom are staff while the rest were family members of the infected principal — have been found.

The Fengshan centre had already been closed from March 24 to April 7, after a nursery 2 teacher from the preschool tested positive for the disease on March 23 and several staff were later found to be symptomatic.

“As she was last present in the centre on March 18 and was well at the time, ECDA and MOH (Ministry of Health) decided that there was no need to close the centre, but instead allowed the centre to close for a day for thorough cleaning and disinfection,” said an ECDA spokesman.

The closure was extended after more staff had reported to be unwell.

On Wednesday, 13 more centre staff, including non-teaching staff and the centre’s principal, tested positive with the virus. 

ECDA said the principal was feeling well while at work on March 17, but later developed symptoms in the afternoon. She had held a meeting with her staff and later attended a course with other preschool staff in the evening. 

“The principal saw a doctor the next morning on March 18 and was on medical leave until March 20. Most of the other staff who tested positive began developing symptoms from March 20 and over the weekend,” said ECDA.

Four of the principal’s family members also tested positive on March 23 and 24, though they did not stay with her. Contact tracing by the MOH is ongoing.

Apart from the centre’s closure, MOH has also placed all children and staff who were at the centre between March 16 and March 24 on quarantine.

“ECDA is closely monitoring the situation, and working with the management, staff, parents and children at PCF Sparkletots Preschool @ Fengshan Blk 126 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all,” the agency said.

ECDA added that since January, when the outbreak first landed in Singapore, it has been working closely with preschool operators to put in place precautionary measures, such as the restriction of visitors, suspension of large group and communal activities as well as excursions and field trips, health checks and stepped-up temperature screening for all children and teachers.

Staff were also advised to seek immediate medical attention and stay away from the preschool if they feel unwell, it added.

“The precautionary measures that have been put in place in preschools are only effective if the preschool community works together and exercises social responsibility. All preschool staff and children who are unwell should seek immediate medical attention and return to school only when fully recovered,” said ECDA.

APOLOGY LETTER SENT TO PARENTS

In a letter sent to parents and seen by TODAY, PCF said preliminary investigations revealed that the staff had gone to work despite feeling unwell.

“We are sorry for what has happened. It is regrettable that measures put in place to safeguard the well-being of children and staff were not strictly followed in that centre. We will do a comprehensive review of what happened in this case and take appropriate actions,” said the letter.

PCF added that it takes its daily responsibility to care for 40,000 young children, aged between two months and six years, “very seriously”.

When the preschools reopen on March 30, PCF will continue to suspend all non-essential visits to its centres to minimise the risk of community transmission, the letter said. Large group activities and excursions will remain suspended too.

“As part of the daily health screening process, all of our centres have been directed to ensure that children and staff will not be allowed to enter the centre if they show any signs or symptoms of being unwell,” said PCF, adding that every child and staff is closely monitored during the day.

INQUEST TO BE CONDUCTED 

Separately, PCF chief executive Victor Bay said in a media statement that the foundation was “deeply sorry to all parents whose children are enrolled with PCF for the inconvenience caused by the closures”.

He added that an internal inquiry committee will be formed to investigate the matter, “with a view to taking appropriate staff disciplinary action where warranted”.

During the period of closure, PCF will engage professional cleaning agencies to conduct disinfection, sanitisation and deep-cleaning of all its centres. It will also “conduct refresher training on health, hygiene and safety practices for our staff”, said Mr Bay.  

“We will also review our SOPs (standard operating procedures) to identify any gaps and tighten processes to ensure full compliance,” he added.