Ministry shuts down Ngee Ann Poly over Sars

The Strait Times APRIL 1, 2003 TUE

SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Education Minister said on Tuesday he would close a technical education college at least until the end of the week to help stop the spread of a mystery illness that has killed four so far.

Education Minister Teo Chee Hean told a news conference late on Tuesday that he had decided to shut down Ngee Ann Polytechnic for at least a week starting on Wednesday. Advertisement

He said the closure would be reviewed and could be extended longer.

The Health Ministry reported three new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or Sars, on Tuesday -- bringing the country's total to 95. Four people have died of it in Singapore.

Rear-Adm (NS) Teo said he would consider extending previously announced school closures and he could call other post secondary schools to be temporarily shut down in the next few days.

He announced the closure of all schools from day care centres to junior colleges on March 26, but at the time stressed that the decision was made to calm parents -- not on medical grounds.

Shutting down Ngee Ann will affect some 13,000 to 14,000 students, he noted.

Also at the news conference, health authorities said the number of people under home quarantine currently was 977. As many as 1,500 people have been under quarantine in recent days. -- AP

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