'I want the public to understand that this will be quite a common occurrence, when we close classes or schools, and we have to get used to it.

'It's not going to be a short period. It'll be a long period, maybe a few months, and we have to get used to these disruptions and take them in our stride, to have life go on as normal, whether it's schools, the Asian Youth Games, the National Day Parade, unless the health authorities tell us otherwise.'

Education Minister and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, speaking to reporters at the opening of the International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies 2009 yesterday

This article was first published in The Straits Times.