WITH the number of patients catching hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) rising rapidly, the Health Ministry (MOH) is now providing daily updates of new cases reported instead of weekly ones.

The number of new cases between Saturday and 3pm on Thursday was 880, bringing the year's total to 8,440.

At the 17 pre-schools and childcare centres ordered to close or voluntarily shut for 10 days by the MOH, teachers, principals, caregivers and administrative staff rolled up their sleeves on Thursday and spent the day disinfecting their premises and toys.

PCF Tampines East called in professionals to service the air-conditioners and fumigate the premises. Cleaning will continue throughout the 10-day period.

'We are making sure that every single corner of the centre is clean,' said Mr Benny Yeo, the centre's general manager.

St Andrew's Cathedral Child Development Centre supervisor Adrienne Soon said besides having her staff of 14 coming back daily to scrub and clean the premises, professionals will also be coming in next Monday to make sure 'every spot is sanitised'.

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Centres ordered closed by MOH

Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Kindergarten

St Andrew's Cathedral Child Development Centre

Al-Istiqamah Mosque Kindergarten

Just Kids@Jurong

NTUC Childcare Co-operative (Compassvale)

Pat's Schoolhouse (Halifax Road)

Learning Vision@Work (KKH)

PCS Jurong West Centre

Centres that will heed a request to voluntarily shut their doors

Cherrybrook Kindergarten

Holy Trinity Kindergarten

PCF Sengkang West

PCF Tampines East

PCF Punggol East

NTUC Childcare Co-operative (Anchorvale)

St James Church Kindergarten

Kinderland Preschool (Yio Chu Kang)

PCF Moulmein - Tai Pei Childcare & Development Centre

Centres planning to stay open despite being asked to voluntarily close

NTUC Childcare Co-operative (Toa Payoh)

Brighton Montessori (Frankel Avenue)