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Coronavirus Information & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About the Coronavirus &
Possible School Closing Information

Updated March 6, 2020

What is the Coronavirus or COVID-19 virus?

The Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cases in the United States and in New York, including Westchester County, NY.

How is the COVID-19 virus spread?

According to the CDC, the virus that causes COVID-19 belongs to a family of viruses called “coronavirus.” There are other viruses in the coronavirus family that can cause illness in both humans and animals. These viruses can cause either mild illness like a cold or can make people very sick with pneumonia. This particular coronavirus has not been seen previously in humans. The virus is likely to be spread from person to person. Since the virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads.

How will I know if I or my children have the flu or COVID-19?

While both these illnesses are respiratory viruses with symptoms of fever and a cough, it is recommended that anyone experiencing these symptoms visit a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

What steps can I take to protect my family from the Coronavirus?

According to guidance from the CDC and the NYSDOH, the most important steps you can take to protect your family and yourself from the Coronavirus are to:

  • Wash your hands often “with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.” It might seem basic but it is the easiest action any person can take to minimize the threat, and it’s also how we care for each other.  This video provides age-appropriate guidance on how to help young children learn to wash their hands thoroughly.  The Seasonal Flu Guide for Parents in English and Spanish also provides helpful information about steps you can take to avoid the spread of germs.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

  • Stay home when you are sick.

  • When you or other members of your family are sick, keep them away from others to prevent the uninfected from getting sick, too.

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to help prevent those around you from getting sick, then throw the tissue in a covered trash can.

  • If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands). 

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 

  • Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

  • Get the flu vaccine: The CDC recommends making sure everyone receives this season’s flu vaccine; it won’t prevent Coronavirus, but it will reduce the risk of contracting regular influenza, which means fewer people will need medical care at the same time as any Coronavirus patients.

What should I do if I or a member of my family feels sick?

A key to preventing the spread of any contagious illness is to avoid exposing others to the illness.  If you or a family member feels sick, stay home and consult with your doctor.  If you suspect you or your child may have been exposed to the Coronavirus, or any other contagious virus or condition, seek medical help and please do not come to school.  Here are the CDC recommended steps to follow if you or a family member feels sick.  

Should I or my children wear masks?

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility).

What is the district doing to protect students and staff?

Our District is following the guidance of Westchester County and New York State Health Department, which is working closely with the CDC, local governments, and health care providers to prepare for and respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation. School nurses will continue to identify and assess  the health status of students or staff who are experiencing flu-like symptoms. 

What will the district do if someone at a school or office is diagnosed with COVID-19?

If both exposure and symptoms of fever or respiratory illness are present, nurses will inform the principal, isolate the individual, and contact the Westchester County Health Department. Where necessary, cleaning and disinfection will take place. 

How will the District decide if it’s necessary to close school in response to the Coronavirus?

District officials have been in regular consultation with our school district physician and rely on information from the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department to take the precautions that health experts advise are necessary.  Any decision to close school will be informed by guidance received from county and state health officials.  You will be notified of all steps that the District will undertake in the event a school closing becomes necessary.

What steps is the District taking to clean classrooms and prevent the spread of germs?

Custodial staff have been directed to prioritize and increase the frequency of cleaning common and high traffic areas each day. Under normal circumstances, these areas are cleaned once a day. Prioritized cleaning includes bathrooms, the lunchroom, common spaces, door handles, emergency bar on doors, and water fountains. This means that ongoing maintenance or litter pick-up outside will be deprioritized temporarily. All efforts will be made to keep students healthy and safe.  The District has also taken an inventory of needed cleaning products and taken steps to ensure that we have ample inventory of cleaning products on hand.  In addition, our bus company has protocols in place to reduce the spread of illness.

If it does become necessary to close school, how will students receive instruction?

If it becomes necessary to close a school or multiple schools, the District will provide ongoing instructional support for students, and we are mobilizing our teachers to be prepared in the event of the school closing. The District will utilize two platforms to provide direct support from teachers to their students. In grades 3 through 12, teachers will utilize Google Classroom to deliver ongoing instruction; in grades kindergarten through grade 2, the software SeeSaw will be the primary delivery platform. Comprehensive instructions on how to access this material will be made available in the event of a school closing.

Online district resources will also be made available to provide additional instructional service. We are working with our invaluable partner, the Harrison Association of Teachers, and our extraordinarily innovative faculty to utilize all of our available resources to support your children.

If you're aware of a family that does not have access to the Internet or is lacking a device, please encourage them to contact the principal and the District will assist the family in accessing District resources. Any request for support is confidential.

How should I talk with my child about the Coronavirus?

The best way to help children deal with fear of the unknown is to provide accurate information. It is important to remind children that Coronavirus does not pose a great risk to children, and that there are simple ways to protect yourself from exposure. 

Most importantly, when talking to your children it is essential to consider their developmental readiness when sharing this information. Preadolescents and adolescents are more capable of dealing with the information in a straightforward and fact-based manner. This information from the CDC underscores the limited risk to children and could be useful in talking to adolescents and preadolescents.  This information from the Child Mind Institute provides helpful suggestions for discussing Coronavirus with children.  For younger children, this video from National Public Radio provides a “comic book" version to assist parents in discussing this issue with younger children.

How will the District communicate with parents and provide resources in response to the Coronavirus?

Within the next week, the District will be launching a webpage to provide the most up-to-date information from the NYSDOH and CDC regarding the Coronavirus as it relates to public schools, as well as any information should it become necessary to close school. This webpage will also serve as a single point of access for educational resources should it become necessary to provide instruction to students remotely.