Our primary concern currently is to protect the health and well-being of our children in Singapore. Up to 2pm today, the various hotlines of the four ministries had received a total of 1815 calls. Most of the callers sought confirmation on the closure of the kindergartens and childcare centres, details of the HFMD, and general reassurances. Many also complained about the inconvenience they will face because of the closure. While we understand their concerns, we would like to reiterate that our first priority must be to ensuring the continued good health of our children.
Parents can help by keeping their children away from crowded places.
The toys, books, eating utensils, towels, clothes, bed linens and other articles used by the infected child should not be shared with other children. In addition, items handled by the infected child should be washed separately. Surfaces that are easily contaminated or are frequently handled, such as toys, potty-chairs, toilets and diaper changing areas should also be clean and disinfected. Good personal hygiene such as washing hands before and after using the toilet, preparing food and changing diapers is also important.