SINGAPORE — The authorities on Friday (April 10) announced exemptions for essential service workers who may continue to drop off children at their grandparents' home on a daily basis, a day after it announced that parents should stop doing so during the “circuit breaker” period to protect the elderly from the risk of Covid-19 infection.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the exemptions will apply to families where:

• Both parents are essential service workers and unable to work from home
• One parent is a healthcare professional (for example, doctor, nurse, allied health professional, support care staff) and is unable to work from home
• One parent is an essential service worker who is unable to work from home, and have a child/children below the age of three.

Nevertheless, the ministry said: “Families who are relying on the grandparents for childcare on a daily basis are advised to take the necessary safe distancing precautions to protect the elderly. Observe personal hygiene and try to reduce interaction time as far as possible when visiting their home. Do not visit when unwell.”

On the flexibility for families with essential service workers, MOH said it recognised that there would be some households where parents have to continue going to work during this period.

It said: “These are workers in our essential services, especially our healthcare workers who are on the frontline working on shifts and on weekends, when childcare centres may not be available, and may be activated at any time of the day to respond to the Covid-19 situation.” 

These parents will face additional difficulties which may be unnecessarily stressful for these essential service personnel, the ministry said. 

It added: “For very young children, we also recognise that it is difficult for them to be away from their parents for long periods of time, and adjusting to new caregivers that they are unfamiliar with would be challenging.” 

MOH reiterated that during the “circuit breaker” period from April 7 to May 4, the multi-ministry taskforce is disallowing parents from sending their children to the care of their grandparents on a daily basis so as to “prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infection through regular interactions between households, and to protect our vulnerable seniors”. 

As part of these measures, members of the public are to stay at home, and not go out unnecessarily except to purchase daily necessities, essential services, or for urgent medical needs. 

The ministry stressed that seniors are most vulnerable to severe Covid-19 infection. “Hence seniors are strongly urged to stay home and minimise interactions with those outside their household,” MOH said.

“Individuals can visit the elderly to assist them with their daily needs such as bringing them groceries, food and other essential supplies, but interaction time should be kept to a minimum.”

During this period, parents are encouraged to care for their children within their own households, MOH said. 

It added that employers are requested to exercise the necessary flexibility to support parents who are working from home during this time, as having to care for their children personally might take a toll on their work productivity.

The ministry also reiterated that parents could consider placing their children with their grandparents throughout the entire “circuit breaker” period, if it is the existing care arrangement for the child to be placed under the care of their grandparents who live outside the household and there are no alternative care arrangements.

“This is to minimise frequent interactions across households,” MOH said.

“We recognise that many parents will find this a difficult adjustment, especially if they have always had daily childcare support from grandparents or pre-schools/ childcare centres. However, this is done out of necessity to protect our seniors.”

Parents requiring assistance may contact Early Childhood Development Agency at contact [at] ecda.gov.sg or 67359213.

“We understand that this is a very difficult adjustment for many families, and these measures go against the instinct to be close to and to support our loved ones,” MOH said.

“But our elderly are most susceptible to severe Covid-19 infection, and we should refrain from exposing them to the risk of Covid-19 as far as possible, by minimising physical interactions with them.”