Victoria Junior College Students to Shift to Home-Based Learning Next Week

1. A student from Victoria Junior College (VJC) was tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, 7 May. The student was last in school on Wednesday, 5 May. She developed Acute Respiratory Infection symptoms later that day, and consulted a doctor on 6 May.

2. In light of this, VJC has thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the school premises. The school will also be stepping up precautionary measures to curb any risk of transmission, including:

• 95 students and 8 staff who had been in close contact with the student being placed on Quarantine Order; and
• Given that this is currently an unlinked case, and with the increase in the community cases, other students, staff, vendors and visitors of the school are required by the Ministry of Health to undergo COVID-19 swab tests. About 2,200 of them will be undergoing swab tests by 10 May.

3. As it will take some time to complete and finalise the results of the COVID-19 swab tests, VJC will conduct Full Home-Based Learning from Monday, 10 May to Friday, 14 May in the first instance. The school implements Blended Learning regularly and hence teachers and students are familiar with online learning. Teachers will also keep in regular contact with students and parents.

4. MOE will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with the school and parents to ensure the well-being of staff and students. With the increase in the number of local cases over the past week, we urge all students and staff to continue practising good personal hygiene and adhering to Safe Management Measures. This includes wearing masks, washing hands frequently, wiping down equipment and tables, seeing a doctor if they are sick and returning to school only when fully recovered.