Coronavirus: Singapore shifts to online classes from May 17 amid fears B.1.617 variant ‘affects children more’

The 38 cases reported on Sunday mean Singapore has racked up 193 domestic infections this month, compared to 55 in April and just nine in March

Many new cases in recent weeks have tested positive for the B.1.617 coronavirus variant that appears to be more transmissible

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Primary school students wearing face masks make their way to school in Singapore. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:19pm, 16 May 2021Updated: 9:59am, 17 May 2021

Singapore will close public schools this week as it grapples with a sharp rise in domestic cases of Covid-19 that have resulted in the city state returning to lockdown-like conditions in place at the height of the pandemic last year.

The country on Sunday reported 38 new local cases of the virus, 17 of which were unlinked. This month, Singapore has racked up 193 domestic infections, compared to 55 in April and just nine in March. It has reported more than 61,000 cases in total since the start of the pandemic.

Authorities are currently monitoring 15 active infection clusters, including one at its airport terminals and another emerging at a tuition centre, which involved students. Many of those confirmed as new cases in recent weeks tested positive for the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first identified in India, worrying authorities as it appears to be more transmissible and behaves differently from the strains Singapore saw last year.

Ong Ye Kung became Singapore’s new health minister following a cabinet reshuffle that took effect on Saturday. Photo: EPA

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the B.1.617 strain “appeared to affect children more” – motivating the decision to close schools from Wednesday, with all primary, secondary and junior college students shifting to full home-based learning until May 28.

While the current social distancing restrictions have banned dine-in services and require all employees to work from home, preschools and student care centres will remain open to support parents who need to be in the workplace.

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