Press Releases
Re-opening Of Kindergartens And Childcare Centres: Earliest Possibility Is On Thursday 12 Oct 00
6 October 2000
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06 Oct 2000
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS
and MINISTRY OF EDUCATION:
The earliest date that all childcare centres, kindergartens, enrichment centres, play groups, special schools, foreign system schools and learning centres which cater to children aged five years and below can expect to be re-opened is Thursday, 12 Oct 00.
The decision as to whether the centres will be re-opened on Thursday will depend on the Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Taskforce's assessment on whether the transmission of HFMD has been interrupted. This will be decided based on the following criteria:
a. The incidence of HFMD infection among 5 year olds and below has dropped since the closure
b. No new complicated HFMD cases are identified
c. No more deaths related to HFMD.
The HFMD Taskforce will be monitoring the situation closely and an announcement will be made on Tuesday, 10 Oct 00 regarding the date of the re-opening of the centres. It is important that the chain of transmission is broken before the centres can be re-opened, and in this respect, the Task Force appeals to everyone to co-operate by not bringing their children to crowded places.
UPDATE ON HFMD CASES
Of the 30 cases reported to be in hospital yesterday, 16 have been discharged. Another 16 clinically suspected HFMD cases were admitted to KKH and NUH bringing the total hospitalised cases to 30. All the cases are mild and in stable condition.
Since HFMD was made legally notifiable on 1 Oct 00, 641 cases have been reported to the Quarantine & Epidemiology Department, with the bulk of the cases, falling ill on 2 and 3 Oct 2000. To facilitate investigations and enable control measures to be taken quickly, all doctors are reminded to continue notifying immediately all cases of HFMD by fax, phone or email to:
The Commissioner of Public Health
Fax: 7348287
Tel: 7319760, 7319761, 7319758
Email: GOH_eng_seng@env.gov.sg
Those who need any information can call the following Hotlines:
Ministry of the Environment : 7319184 / 7319761/ 1800-7319222 / 1800-4532222
Ministry of Health : 3259220 / 1800 - 2254122
Ministry of Community Development and Sports: 1800-2580677
(For parents of children in childcare centres)
Ministry of Education : 879 6115 / 872 2220
All these hotlines will be operational on Saturday and Sunday, from 8.30am - 6.00pm.
ENV's website
MOH's website