Singapore Polytechnic shifts to online learning as two new students test positive for COVID-19

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) announced that all lessons including lectures and tutorials will be conducted online for two weeks starting Tuesday (May 18).

The shift comes after two more students were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. This brings the total number of cases at SP to three. The first case, a second-year student from the Media, Arts and Design School, was reported on Saturday (May 15).

Following the announcement, all remaining practical lessons and laboratory sessions will be conducted online or deferred to a later date to minimise the mingling of students on campus.

The two new students who contracted COVID-19 include a first year student from the School of Computing who had tested positive for the B1617 virus variant first identified in India. He was last on campus on Friday afternoon, before developing symptoms in the evening.

The second student is a 32 year-old part-time adult learner from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering who was last on campus on Friday evening.

He was asymptomatic before developing symptoms the next day.

Both cases are unlinked.

SP has since conducted thorough cleaning and disinfection on campus for areas visited by the two students. The Ministry of Health has also issued quarantine orders to students or staff who were in close contact with the two students. 

A spokesperson for SP said: “As an additional precautionary measure, SP has also issued a leave of absence to the students’ other classmates and contacts. We have advised all students concerned to monitor their health closely.”

On Sunday (May 16), Singapore announced that all primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute will shift to home-based learning starting from Wednesday.

More lessons at Institutes of Higher Learning will be conducted online where possible until Jun 13. Only students with lab sessions, practical lessons and final-year projects are allowed on campus as per usual.