No Confirmed or Suspected Cases in the School
CANTON — Superintendent Jill Rossetti wishes to provide students, parents and guardians with updated information on the 2019 new coronavirus (COVID-19) as federal and state health officials continue to monitor the spread of the virus internationally.
District leadership has been made aware of presumptive positive cases in Norfolk County, including one in Norwood, as of Monday afternoon. At this time, there are no confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus in the school. Health officials report that the risk of contracting the virus in Massachusetts remains “low.”
Blue Hills Regional Technical School leadership has been closely following guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and school officials are working together to coordinate response plans, resources and communication should a case of the virus be suspected or confirmed.
At this time, Blue Hills Regional Technical School leadership is exercising extreme caution through limiting field trips, ensuring that all school buses and classes are thoroughly cleaned and putting measures in place to accommodate students who may need to stay home due to illness.
As with every flu season, Blue Hills Regional Technical School has been regularly conducting thorough disinfecting and cleaning efforts within school facilities. Schools buildings are being cleaned and disinfected along with desks, chairs, light switches, door pushes, pencil sharpeners, fitness equipment, lockers, conference tables, band rooms, lavatories, faculty rooms, offices, all floors and more.
According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus appear 2-14 days of exposure. The DPH reports that symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath and pneumonia in severe cases.
Parents and guardians are reminded that, in an effort to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal illnesses, students need to be free from fever, vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school if they have been sick.
The DPH recommends that residents continue with good hygiene practices including:
- Practice good hand hygiene! Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds including under your fingernails. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol content) can be used when soap and water are not available.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing with a tissue and discard it immediately. Cough into the sleeve over your elbow instead of your hand. Wash your hands often when coughing and sneezing.
- Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
For more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.
Additional updates will be released if additional relevant information becomes available from the Blue Hills Regional Technical School.
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.