COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS - Video Information from the World Health Organization
INFORMATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (CDE)
February 14, 2020
Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Principals::
2019 Novel Coronavirus Guidance for Schools and School Districts
The California Department of Education understands there are concerns about novel coronavirus. At this time, the health risk to the general public in California from novel coronavirus remains low, but schools can take common sense precautions to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases. We want to educate people about the symptoms of coronavirus, but we also want to make sure that our schools are working to ensure that this health risk does not stigmatize or isolate certain populations of students based on discrimination. Please follow this link for detailed guidance from the California Department of Public Health about the coronavirus in general: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx.
Please see the attached document for more specific guidelines for our K–12 schools, districts, and county offices of education.
Sincerely,
Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
TT:kb
Attachment(PDF)
Last Reviewed: Friday, February 14, 2020
CORONAVIRUS (2019-nCoV) AND DISTRICT RISK
The District insurer, ASCIP, provided the following information:
It is flu season! Each year we seem to hear of a new strain of flu more aggressive than the last. The rapidly developing outbreak of novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) in central China is sparking fears of a widespread health threat, a pandemic even, but right now there are as many questions as there are answers. What is clear is that the virus is transmitted between humans from coughing, sneezing and touching. Entering through the eyes, nose, and mouth, the virus finds a host cell in the respiratory system and infects it, after which the host cell bursts and infects other cells. The incubation period is up to two weeks.
The CDC continues to believe the risk of 2019-nCoV to the public at large remains low at this time. Nevertheless, this is a rapidly evolving situation.
The CDC will continue to update the public as circumstances warrant. Districts should continue to monitor CDC, California Department of Public Health, and local and county health departments for information and recommendations. All sources recommend the following preventive actions to stop the spread of
germs during flu season:
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Then remain at home for at least 24 hours after
your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone
for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue,
throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
In addition, employees that take care of a sick family member, should check with their doctor about risk
of infection and be ready to take sick leave until confident of not being infectious and continuing the
spread of the illness.
Additional Health Agencies Resources:
Center for Disease Control (CDC) - Novel Coronavirus information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html
CDC - What to do if you are sick with Novel Coronavirus:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
CA Department of Public Health - Novel Coronavirus information:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
World Health Organization - Novel Coronavirus advise for the public:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Cal-OSHA - Coronavirus information:
https://www.cal-osha.com/flash-report/coronavirus-dont-panic-but-be-prepared/
ASCIP - Reducing Flu in the workplace:
http://ascip.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Flu-Prevention.pdf
LACOE INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS:
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LACOE continues to monitor the coronavirus situation and provide support to districts and schools. If we can help, please reach out to LACOE Communications, 562-922-6369.
Public Health Announces Updated Guidance in Accordance with CDC Declaration
of Public Health Emergency
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) continues to take steps to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. The health and wellbeing of the community remains Public Health's top priority. In LA County, as in counties across the U.S., the threat to the general public for contracting coronavirus remains low.
Although LA County only has one confirmed case of novel coronavirus in a traveler from Wuhan, and there are only 11 additional cases diagnosed across the United States, there continues to be a significant increase in the number of people infected with this virus in China (over 17,000 cases as of today), and isolated evidence that there can be transmission from an asymptomatic person. As a result of the deteriorating situation in China, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency to allow local, state, and federal officials to fully coordinate responses in partnership with public health departments, emergency management teams, airports, health care professionals, and first responders. Late Friday, the White House issued a set of new directives that include the following:
- Restricting all foreign nationals who have traveled or been in China the last 14 days to enter the U.S. This order can be renewed by the President every 14 days.
- Requiring all U.S. citizens and their close family members returning from China to enter through one of eleven airports in the U.S. (including LAX), where they will be screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. If travelers are showing signs of respiratory illness, they will be sent for additional testing to a health care facility. Those that were in the Hubei Province at any time in the past 14 days will be quarantined at a secure location and monitored for illness for 14 days from their last exposure. Returning travelers from other places in China who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus may also be subject to a quarantine for 14 days from last exposure. Returning travelers from all other parts of China who have not been in close contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus will be allowed to travel to their final destination where they will be monitored by their local public health department and asked to remain in their homes and avoid public places for 14 days from last exposure.
In LA County, as in counties across the U.S., the threat to the general public for contracting novel coronavirus remains low. Public Health will be working with the state and federal government to implement the new directives to contain the virus and is taking the following actions:
- Assisting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the safe transport of travelers arriving in LAX from China who need to be quarantined; such travelers will be isolated at the quarantine station at LAX and then safely transported to and quarantined at a military base in Riverside County where they will be monitored and supported by personnel at the base.
- Updating and distributing guidance to local healthcare providers around screening and treating people with suspected cases of novel coronavirus.
- Working with schools, colleges and universities to ensure compliance with new guidance from CDC that excludes newly arriving travelers from China from public settings, including schools, for 14 days from their last exposure.
- Providing accurate information to community residents through multi-lingual communications using print, radio, tv and social media outlets as well as delivering packets of fact sheets about novel coronavirus to over 800 community-based organizations.
- Establishing protocols for monitoring the health of U.S. citizens and their family members returning from China who are in LA County and need to remain in their homes for up to 14 days; this includes making sure they receive appropriate services and testing should they become ill within 14 days of last exposure.
- Continued monitoring of all people identified as close contacts of any confirmed cases to assess health status, and, where appropriate, issue exclusion requirements in accordance with CDC directives.
Accurate information, including announcements of new cases in LA County, will always be distributed by Public Health through official channels in the form of a press release and will also be available on the Public Health website and social media accounts @lapublichealth.
For more information about 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), visit the Public Health website and the CDC website or call 2-1-1.
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Los Angeles County Office of Education | 9300 Imperial Highway | Downey | CA | 90242
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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
