I REFER to the measures outlined by Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on how schools will deal with Influenza A (H1N1).
I have confidence in the Government's measures. It is good to note that schools are not taking any chances by adopting every available precautionary measure.
However, despite what the Health and Education ministries have done, everyone should also take responsibility for containing the spread of the H1N1 virus.
Now that the June holidays are over, and people are returning from vacations abroad, a spike in the number of infections can be expected.
They have to act responsibly by staying away from others if they develop flu-like symptoms.
They should also stay away from school for a week if they have been to countries where the virus has spread into the community.
Thoughtless acts can have grave social consequences.
These can include cases of parents who send their sick children to school or childcare because they do not want to stay at home with them.
Or irresponsible parents who do not own up to having travelled abroad with their children during the school vacation.
However, I empathise with parents who have no other sources of help and who need to take leave from work to care for their sick children.
In such cases, employers should do their social duty by not making things difficult for these parents.
Unlike seasonal flu, H1N1 seems to infect younger people more frequently than older ones.
It appears that young children are more susceptible to the virus.
This pandemic requires all of us to be vigilant, to take any flu symptoms seriously and to act responsibly by staying away from others if we are not feeling well.
This is a fight that we, as a nation, can win. -Mr Sebastian Tan
