In response to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) February 25th press conference, which updated the country on the current status of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), we are sharing information and tips to help prevent the spread of illness within our community.
To echo the CDC, there is not currently a Coronavirus pandemic in the United States and no diagnosed cases in Rhode Island. We are, however, continuing to monitor developments and how they determine our course of action. We welcome your active participation in sharing with children the importance of daily health practices to combat the spread of sickness. They include:
Get your flu shot and encourage the people around you to do the same.
Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.
Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, and toys) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
Keep children home if they have a temperature above 100°F, or showing other signs of flu, (We ask that students show 24 straight hours of non-medicated good health before returning.)
We continue to work closely with our town officials and the Rhode Island Department of Health in planning potential responses should the virus begin to spread in the United States. Thank you for your support and we will keep you updated on any changes to upcoming events or school activities if needed.
For your convenience, we have provided a flyer linked below from the Rhode Island Department of Health and their website landing page with more information.
https://health.ri.gov/diseases/respiratory/?parm=163
https://health.ri.gov/publications/factsheets/novel-coronavirus.pdf