Palm View Primary School extends an additional day of Home-Based Learning after student confirmed positive with COVID-19

A Primary 2 student studying at Palm View Primary School has been identified as one of the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the country, resulting in the school extending its Home-Based Learning (HBL) for all students on Thursday (2 April).
In a letter addressed to all parents, the school’s principal, Ming Kum, said that the student contracted the virus from a family member and did not travel anywhere during the March holidays.
The principal revealed that the pupil last attended school on Monday (30 March) and was feeling well, adding that the student continues to be in “high spirit” while receiving treatment.
“Students and staff who had been in close contact with the student will be placed on Leave of Absence (LOA) with immediate effect for a period of 14 days from today, 1 April 2020,” the statement noted.
As for the extension of HBL, the school stated that it is being done as a “precautionary measure”. Additionally, during the closure of the school, a thorough cleaning and disinfection will be conducted at its premises at 150 Compassvale Bow. The school will resume on Friday (3 April).
“These measures are in place to ensure that our school remains a safe environment for teaching and learning. All students and staff are reminded to continue to observe good hygiene practices and to see a doctor immediately if feeling unwell,” the principal said.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Education announced that all primary schools, secondary school, junior colleges and centralised institutes will carry out one day of HBL per week from this month, as part of added ways to prevent the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.
HBL days and duration are set at each school level. Primary schools will be on Wednesdays for four hours, secondary schools will be on Thursdays for five hours, and junior colleges or centralised institute will be on Fridays for six hours.
Palm View Primary School is one of a number of other learning institutions with at least one student or staff who have tested positive for the virus. Other named schools are Maris Stella High, Victoria Junior College, Raffles Institution, Singapore Institute of Technology, Fengshan PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots preschool and Dover Court International School.
On Wednesday, Ministry of Health (MOH) said that both the preschool and the international school were identified as new clusters in Singapore.
MOH also confirmed and verified an additional 74 cases of the infection in Singapore on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,000. Out of this, 245 cases have made full recoveries, 23 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit and four have passed away. Additionally, 291 cases are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19. They are being isolated at cared for at various medical facilities.