SINGAPORE – With more children exposed to Covid-19 this year than last year, some parents have had to accompany their children to fulfill their quarantine orders at hotels.

Among them is the housewife Angeline Chia, 48, who has been at Hotel Mi on Bencoolen Street with her nine-year-old son Elliot Lam since Sunday (May 16).

The St. Stephen’s School student was in close contact with a Covid-19 positive case at the school where two students tested positive last Thursday.

The school went into home learning mode last Friday, On the same day, Elliot was on leave when he had to stay home and monitor his health.

Later that day, Ms. Chia received a call from the Ministry of Health (MOH) saying that her son had been served with a quarantine order, which would mean staying in an assigned location.

“He was excited to come to the hotel. He thinks it’s a stay, ”said Ms. Chia. They are allowed to leave on May 25 if they tested negative for Covid-19 the day before, she added.

Elliot’s twin brother Aryton, who is in a different class at school, is looked after by her father at home.

As of Tuesday, 24 Covid-19 patients were linked to a cluster This was first noticed when a 50-year-old Learning Point tutor at the Parkway Center tested positive for the virus on May 12. 14 of them are primary school students.

MOH has not disclosed the number of children that have been quarantined.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said it was working closely with MOH and the schools to identify close links with the confirmed cases.

Once the close contacts have been identified, the schools will first grant them a leave of absence.

“At the same time, MOH will examine whether a quarantine order should be issued to these close contacts,” said an MOE spokesman.

Ms. Chia was told that a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child and that they would not have to pay the costs.

Meals provided to Mr Chan Fanjie and his daughter Claudia who is in quarantine at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy. PHOTOS: Courtesy of CHAN FANJIE

Mr Chan Fanjie, a 43-year-old civil servant, moved to the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy last Thursday after his daughter Claudia, a primary school student, decided to be a close contact on a case. The eight-year-old had attended the Learning Point Center in Century Square, where the same tutor was teaching.

Mr Chan took his laptop with him as he will be working from the hotel until he is allowed to get off on May 21, until the Covid-19 test is completed.

Mr. Anson Loo, a 42-year-old businessman, is accompanying his son K Kayne, a 3rd elementary student at St. Stephen’s School, who is doing his quarantine assignment at the hotel Mi.

His 11-year-old twin daughters are cared for by his wife at home.

Mr. Anson Loo accompanies his son K Kayne in the hotel Mi. PHOTO: Courtesy of ANSON LOO

Mr Loo, who ran Zoom meetings from the hotel, said the small room made it difficult for them as he had to sit on the floor to eat while K Kayne uses the table.

“It’s hard to cope with the allotted space,” said Mr Loo.

Parents are aware that they can get sick.

On Tuesday, MOH reported that a 37-year-old woman – a carer for an eight-year-old boy in quarantine – and a 43-year-old woman – a carer for an eight-year-old girl in quarantine – both tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Chan, who was not vaccinated against Covid-19, and Mr Loo, who received the first dose, both said they were mentally prepared for the worst case scenario.

They said, like the other parents interviewed by The Straits Times, they did not use masks in the hotel rooms.

None was wiped off either. Regarding her children, Mr Chan said Claudia was tested last Friday and found negative for the virus.

He said his wife and other daughter, four, were given separate leave from work and preschool, respectively, while other parents said their household members were not granted leave.


Ms. Hanis took a PS4 game console and set up a prayer area in the hotel room, where she and her son are under quarantine. PHOTOS: Courtesy of MADAM HANIS

Ms. Hanis, who did not want her full name to be disclosed, stayed in a hotel with her nine-year-old son, a 3rd grade student at St. Stephen’s School, after receiving a quarantine order.

The 46-year-old, who was fully vaccinated, said: “We know that everyone reacts differently to the vaccine and I don’t know how protected I am from it. My biggest concern is my son as we don’t put him on.” I don’t know how they (students) are affected. “