Today-May 16

The new B1617 strain, commonly known as the double-mutant variant of the coronavirus first detected in India, appears to be affecting younger children more. This is why schools here are taking a more cautious approach this time around, the Government’s Covid-19 task force said. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said in an evening press conference on Sunday (May 16): “We know that there are many new strains of the Covid-19 virus — there are various new mutations and some of these mutations are much more virulent and they seem to attack younger children.” On Sunday, the task force announced that all primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute are to shift to full home-based learning from May 19 until the end of their term on May 28. The latest move was done in response to a rapidly growing number of community cases and cases with no known sources of infection, including among students and in private tuition centers.

Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/new-b1617-coronavirus-strain-appears-be-attacking-younger-children-more-covid-19-task-force