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CORONAVIRUS GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS 

 

 

 

What is Coronavirus?

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Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. This strain of the virus, COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus that was not identified in humans before December 2019. Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It takes 2 to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to become ill. COVID-19 is spread from person to person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how flu and other respiratory pathogens spread. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. With most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

 

What is DNA doing to reduce the spread of communicable diseases?

 

Destiny Now Academy (DNA) officials continue to follow the guidance of local, state and federal health officials with regard to all communicable diseases.

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While we are not aware of any confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Cumberland County, we continue to remind our school community that the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are the same preventions that are recommended for the spread of the flu and common cold. We encourage students and staff to use the following guidance to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

 

· Encourage 20-second handwashing by staff and student

 

· Teach and encourage the “cover your cough” method

 

· Promote the use of tissues when sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose and discarding tissue after one use

 

· Notify parents of any student with respiratory symptoms and/or fever

 

· A student who displays signs or symptoms of illness will be encouraged to see their health care provider

 

· No student shall return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine, even if   they feel better

 

· Provide handwashing videos to principals to use as a teaching tool
 

· Wipe down classroom manipulatives daily
 

· Clean common surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and keyboards
 

Individuals who have health concerns should contact their personal health care provider.

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