Covid-19: Students at CHIJ Katong Convent put on home-based learning after 2 pupils test positive

SINGAPORE — Students at CHIJ Katong Convent have been placed on home-based learning since Thursday (July 22) after two pupils tested positive for Covid-19.

In a letter to parents on Wednesday that was seen by TODAY, Ms Patricia Chan, the school principal, said that a student from Class 304 had tested positive for the disease. She was last in school on Monday and was well.

In another letter to parents on Thursday, Ms Chan said that a student from Class 402 had also tested positive. The student was last in school on Monday and was also well, and she is a household member of a confirmed case.

“From our knowledge, her infection is not linked to the earlier case we reported on July 21,” Ms Chan said in the letter.

The Ministry of Education has verified the authenticity of both letters.

This comes after a student at CHIJ Secondary School (Toa Payoh) had earlier tested positive for the coronavirus.

With the students placed on home-based learning, the school was closed on Thursday to allow for cleaning and disinfecting of its premises.

Ms Chan said in the second letter that Secondary 1 and 2 students returned to school on Friday. Sec 4 and 5 students will return to school next Monday, while Sec 3 pupils will do so next Wednesday.

Students and staff members who had been in close contact with both pupils have been contacted by the school, she added.

“We will follow up with these students and staff upon further guidance from the Ministry of Health (MOH) should contact tracing be required.”

In her earlier letter, Ms Chan said that parents of students identified as close contacts would receive an SMS notification by phone or be contacted directly by MOH informing them on the actions they are required to take.

She also stressed that the school would continue to tightly implement safe management measures.