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Local schools are taking preventative measures against the COVID-19 virus, encouraging good personal hygiene habits and looking to the county health department for future guidance.

Concerns about the novel coronavirus come at the same time as peak flu season, so school staff already have these habits in mind, according toSuzie Skadan, director of health services for Visalia Unified School District.

Skadan said the district has sent out information nearly every week in the past couple months, updating families on best practices.

"It's a good idea you won't get colds or the fluif you follow this, not just coronavirus," Skadan said.

The risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low in Tulare County, according to public health officials. The one Tulare County resident tested for COVID-19 did not have the virus.

"Itis critical that people do not allow fear to drive their actions," said Shawn Elkin,infection prevention manager at Kaweah Delta Medical Center. "Yes, be honest and be vigilant, but don't freak out."

VUSD has shared these guidelines with families:

Skadan said custodial staff is also cleaning classrooms and schools nightly to prevent the spread of germs.

Face masks should only be worn by those who are sick, and not the "worried well," Elkin said.

Skadan agreed, saying that some parents had called the district to see if their child should wear a mask but that masks were "to protect students who are ill" and not to be used as a "faceguard for all students."

School sitesare leaning away from naming the novel coronavirus in their preventative efforts.

"We continue to push wash your hands, cover your mouth, all those kinds of things we do with the normal flu," said Loretta Bryant, principal at Annie R. Mitchell Elementary School."We don't specify anything to do with the coronavirus."

"We don't really bring it up," Bryant added. "We are here to engage in learning, not in panic."

Skadan said district staff has discussed how to proceed if the virus spreads to Tulare County.

"We have plans in place, should something happen, that we'd be able to move accordingly," Skadan said."We follow the direction of the health department."

Visalia Unified School District is sharing this poster from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Reach reporter Kyra Haasby emailat khaas@visaliatimesdelta.com or find her onTwitter@kc_haas.

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Link:
Here's how local schools are talking with families about the novel coronavirus - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

This entry was posted on March 12, 2020 at 8:51 am and is filed under Preventative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |