Prevention of COVID 19 at SSM-FC
Prevention of COVID 19 at SSM-FC
Since the beginning of the pandemic, SSM-FC has strictly followed the guidelines and standard operating procedures stipulated by the Malaysian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. Research and policies from the WHO (World Health Organization) and the United States CDC (Center for Disease Control) have further informed the school’s management of the risk associated with the global pandemic.
Students, parents, faculty members, support staff, the Senior Leadership Team led by Dr. Gregg Maloberti have adopted and implemented proactive measures and regulations through continuous exchange of communication between the school administration and the members of the community. The measures included installing facial recognition, thermal temperature scanners at the school entrances, sanitizing and disinfecting classrooms at regular intervals, providing clear and visual instructions for physical hygiene, wearing masks at all times, ensuring strict physical and social distancing in classrooms, cafeteria, playgrounds, and conducting school funded, random Antigen testing on all individuals supervised by the school nurse.
As the health and safety of the community remains the school’s highest priority, Dr. Maloberti has sent regular emails to parents emphasizing proper and appropriate social and hygiene practices at school and at home. Parents, faculty and staff members have also been instructed to notify the school administration if any student shows symptoms of possible infection. Clear instructions were given to stay home should any student, parent, or staff member experience any symptom related to Covid-19 while at school, rapid Antigen testing at the school campus is administered by our School Nurse, Ms. Shelley. For those who reported symptoms or positive cases following home-testing, MOH isolation guidelines were shared by Dr. Maloberti. Similarly, those who have been identified as “close-contacts” of positive cases, are quarantined according to the latest MOH guidelines. In Dr. Maloberti’s words, “If you or your child detect even mild symptoms, please stay home, self-test, and isolate until a negative RTK Antigen test confirms a negative result for the presence of the Covid-19 Virus. This will not only protect you and your family from further spread of the virus, but it will also prevent subsequent community transmission of the Covid-19 Virus.”
From time to time, the school has imposed longer periods of isolation or quarantine on positive cases or close contacts. Dr. Maloberti has said, “These additional cautions and highly restrictive measures are in effect, because our school population includes unvaccinated children and other vulnerable groups.” These more stringent measures help to contain the virus and prevent widespread infection within the school community.
Whenever there is a Covid-19 positive case or close contact at school, the division Principals Ms. Morrin and Ms. Domninguez send Information to parents and students about specific responses in each grade level or division. These timely communications and responsive measures are in line with our school’s ultimate goal of keeping the community safe and maintaining a well-protected campus. These communications are further evidence of the school’s commitment to a level of response to the pandemic that is above and beyond the SOPs and the minimum requirements of the MOH.
Students, teachers, staff, and parents have all been strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted. The school has supported every initiative to get our community vaccinated and boosted by coordinating schedules and availability of vaccines with local clinics and public vaccination centers. The high rate of vaccination in the school community has helped to keep Covid-19 infections to a minimum. Everyone is advised to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
Our Wellness and Health Awareness Center has a key role in administering Rapid Antigen Tests (RTK) for all at the campus. The process of scheduling and running the tests is run by our School Nurse, Ms. Kau Siew Ley Shelley who also supervises the Medical Help Desk. She has been sending emails, reminders to the members of the school community highlighting the importance of good sanitization, social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks at all times. She conducts regular temperature checks. For those appearing for the random Covid-19 tests, Ms. Shelley sends out instructions on the procedures to follow prior to the test. She takes great care in reminding students and faculty members about the importance of following the SOPs. Nurse Shelly is personally and professionally dedicated to maintaining the school’s mission of keeping the campus safe and healthy.
Our School Nurse, Ms. Kau Siew Ley Shelley.
Recently, one of our students, Yaewon from Grade 8, interviewed Nurse Shelly to learn more about the impact of Covid-19 on the school community and how to avoid catching the deadly virus. At one point in their discussion, Nurse Shelley gave a valuable piece of advice, “Family and friends should wash hands before taking and after taking food. And, it is a must to wash hands with soap, avoid touching your face, disinfect the environment, maintain social distance at least one meter apart, eat more vitamins, wear a mask whenever going out, and immediately take shower after coming back home because people could be exposed to bacteria and viruses when they go out.” She further added, “Remember Covid-19 does not choose its victims, it doesn't matter if you are young or old. Everybody has the same risk chance of contracting this terrible virus. Follow the 3 W’s: Wash(Wash your hands.) Wear(Wear your mask.) Watch(Watch your distance.).”
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Apart from her main role at our Medical Help Desk, as a caring and loving school nurse, Ms. Shelley always tries to make our students aware and well-informed about the dangers of this infectious virus while contributing to the all wellness and awareness concerns for the SSM-FC community.
Adhering to the SOPs, continuous random testing conducted by a trained nurse, strict quarantine and isolation policies, and the promotion of Covid-19 vaccines have helped the SSM-FC limit our exposure to the Covid-19 virus. Constant vigilance is the only way to combat such a sneaky virus that cannot even be seen by the human eye.