Infection Control Guidelines for Schools and CCC
Mcys Sop Hfmd
SOPs on Precautions to Prevent Spread of Influenza
Managing Outbreak of Infectious Disease
Outbreak is classified when two (2) or more children contracted the same disease (e.g. chicken pox) within the maximum incubation period.
Incubation period referred to an infection by virus / pathogen to until the symptoms appear.
ONE case infection
Immediate Action
- Seek unanimous assessment from all or class’ teachers and principal (minimum 3 staff’s assessment) before making final decision to classify the child as having the symptoms of an infectious disease. Follow MOH Infection Control Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Centres (refer to MCYS file and Master Hardcopy file) to symptoms to watch out for.
- The suspected child must be isolated immediately. Remove the suspected child to the sick bay, away from the class and other children. Avoid any direct physical contact with the child (wear gloves). Sanitise the place the child’s last sat or touched, example: chair, table, stationery, toys.
- Inform child’s parents immediately but calmly. At least one teacher MUST supervise the suspected child until his/her parents arrive at the School. Must indicate to parents that the suspected must be fetched soonest possible to seek proper medical consultant / treatment.
- Upon the parents’ arrival at the School, Principal / class’ Teacher or the assigned Teacher must escort the parents to the sick bay. They must take the suspected child out of the sick bay quickly and swiftly and eventually out of the school. Principal / class’ Teacher or the assigned Teacher must escort the parents until they leave the s\School. DO NOT or AVOID making any physical contact with the suspected child and the parents. Wear gloves at all times until the child leaves or being fetched by the parents. Immediately sanitise the sick bay and areas touched or used by the child earlier.
- If parents are uncontactable or indicate that they are unable to fetch immediately, yet there are signs of emergency, example: rapid increase of body temperature within a short period of time such as within the next 10-20 minutes; the child must be brought to the nearest clinic. The details of the nearest clinics/hospital are listed in the Emergency Contact List, displayed next to the office’s land phone. Prior to the said emergency medical trip, first check the child’s record on Medical History / Allergies. Bring the along the child’s record to show to the medical officer when necessary. Copy the receipt of the medical fee for the parents to reimburse the school, by one week or when the child has fully recovered and return to School.
- Follow up with the child’s parents on child’s condition during the medical absence and remind parents tactfully that a medical officer must certify in writing that the child has fully recovered before returning to School.
- Upon the child’s return to School, accompanied with “fit for school” certification, screen and conduct Health Checks on the child meticulously. Continue to monitor the child closely over the next five (5) days.
Follow-up Action (Administration)
- Issue Trumpets to all parents immediately. Include assurance that the School are taking additional measures to the School’s health and hygiene practices that are already in place. List the additional measures taken and/or will be taking.
- MCYS and MOH need not be informed for ONE case only (within the maximum incubation period of the infectious disease).
- Record this incident (the one case of infection) into Glucklich’s Log. Identify the child, the disease, symptoms, time parents are called and arrive to fetch the child, duration of medical absence given, diagnose of disease, etc.
Follow-up Action with Other Children and Staff (Operations)
- Avoid integration activities such as Kidzercise (Sand or Water play or Outdoor play), Mastery with other classes or age groups.
- Conduct activities within the same class or age group only.
- Staff and Teachers must carry out the 8-steps Hand Washing procedure before and after each class or activity or before and after handling different age groups.
- Avoid sharing the same items within the class, such as toys, books, stationery, etc.
- At the day’s nap time, wipe with disinfectant before children use to nap. Wipe with disinfectant again before store in Mattresses’ Cupboard.
- Personal belongings such as water bottles, milk powder containers MUST not be placed together in the plastic trayss
Follow-up Action (Cleaning and Maintenance)
- Increase the frequency of cleaning / disinfecting of the School as a whole, such as class / zones, learning corners, toilets, for at least 3 times daily. Fixtures and fittings, such as shelves, cubby, tables, including communal toys, books, stationery, must be cleaned daily until MOH and MCYS declare no longer an infectious outbreak.
- Step up other Health and Hygiene precautions, such as Health Checks to another 2 more times.
- Teacher must accompany children to each toilet visit, follow the 8-steps Hand Washing procedure before leaving the toilet (refer to the pictorial steps displayed in each toilet).
- Keep record of each Visitor to school such as name, hand phone numbers, address. Instruct the Visitor to wash their hands immediately upon arrival at School.
- Children who are or seems unwell should be showered last.
TWO or MORE cases infection
Outbreak is on very high alert when two (2) or more children are contracted with the same disease (e.g. chicken pox) within the maximum incubation period. The cycle of a maximum incubation period for an infectious disease differs from disease to disease. Only when there are no new cases, can the school classify that the disease is container. MOH’s above Guidelines for two most common infectious diseases are as follows:
Chicken pox - 14-21 days
HFMD - 7-10 days
- Inform MCYS via Child Care Link “How to Report on an Outbreak of Disease to MCYS”.
- Inform MCYS of the outbreak , fill the Inspection Checklist on Health & Hygiene of Child Care / Student Care”
- Inform MOH – Form B, Update to Communicable Disease Branch
Form A, HFMD Outbreak
- When second and subsequent cases occur, inform parents of the latest number of cases on Parents’ Noticeboard. There is no need to send Trumpets to individual’s parents so as not to alarm any of them.
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