Corona Virus Update # 2

March 8, 2020

Dear District Families,

I am writing to update you on the status of our response to the coronavirus. We remain in contact with the Montague and Gill departments of public health to mitigate any potential risks to our students and the larger community and over the past several days, the district has participated in several conference calls concerning prevention measures and response planning.

While COVID-19 is a public health concern, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health continue to report that the immediate risk to the general public remains low as of this date.

The precautions we described in our previous communication continue to be best practice prevention measures. Hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette (for example: coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your sleeves and not into your hands, discard tissues then wash hands), and disinfection of common surface areas are keys to prevention and are being emphasized with our students. We are also encouraging individuals who feel sick to stay home for 24 hours after fever or signs of fever cease without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

In addition, if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and have traveled to areas with reported outbreaks or were in close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the 14 days before you began to feel sick, seek medical care immediately. Before you go to a doctor's office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

Here is information about school cleaning protocols. In the past year, the district has purchased several new pieces of cleaning machinery that put us in the forefront of sanitizing our classrooms and combating the spread of bacteria and viruses, one of which includes Protexus electrostatic static cleaning machines that we acquired for each school. These machines spray a mist that is magnetically charged and clings to door handles, surrounds desks and envelops whatever it is near, leaving the surfaces free of germs and viruses. In addition to sanitizing every classroom from floor to ceiling, during February vacation, on a daily basis, our custodial staff uses disinfecting cleaners in classrooms and hallways and on stair rails, door handles, and numerous other common “touch points.” Our facilities and custodial team is taking a very proactive approach to implement preventative cleaning and maintenance routines.

For more information on coronavirus, the following websites are available with up-to-date information:

The CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov

Massachusetts Department of Public Health:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-cases-quarantine-and-monitoring

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website:

http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/emergencyplan/covid19.html

We will continue to keep you informed of relevant information as it becomes available.

Sincerely Yours,

Michael Sullivan, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools