Important Message from Wasatch County School District

By on Wasatch.edu
In a continued effort to ensure the safety of our students, staff and the community, Wasatch County School District is continuing to collaborate with the Wasatch County Health Department, the Utah State Department of Health, as well as other agencies in regard to the possible spread of COVID-19. The following information will help parents understand, in greater detail, the District’s potential response to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) virus. There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. At this point, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes it. Stopping the spread of the virus through everyday practices is the best way to keep people healthy.

Most of the cases are expected to be mild. Children have not been hit hard by this strain, although they may be carriers of the virus. The most vulnerable people are those with compromised immune systems, or who are elderly and not in good health.

Our response to COVID-19 based will be made following careful collaboration with medical experts at the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), Wasatch County Health Department (WCHD) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

ROLE OF WASATCH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN RESPONDING TO COVID-19

Wasatch County School District Schools, working together with the local health department, have an important role in slowing the spread of illnesses to help ensure students and staff have safe and healthy learning environments

Wasatch County School District may:

·      Provide alternatives to face-to-face lessons

·      Establish open learning lab sites where needed

·      Temporarily cancel extracurricular activities, field trips and large events

Additional information about situations that could warrant school closures will be sent as soon as it’s available.

COMMUNICATION PLAN

The District website will include information and guidance shared from UDOH (Coronavirus.utah.gov), WCHD (Coronavirus.wasatch.utah.gov), and the CDC (at cdc.gov/coronavirus).

·      What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019

·      What to do if you are sick with coronavirus 2019

·      Stop the spread of germs – help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like COVID-19

·      Utah-specific information and guidance: Coronavirus.utah.gov

·      Wasatch County-specific information and guidance: Coronavirus.wasatch.utah.gov  

School and district-wide absenteeism (among students and staff) will be monitored and reviewed daily. Large increases of respiratory illness (like the common cold or the “flu” which have symptoms similar to COVID-19) will be evaluated for further action or direction from the Wasatch County Health Department.

Schools ARE NOT expected to screen students or staff to identify cases of COVID-19. The majority of respiratory illnesses are not COVID-19. If a student or staff member suspects he/she might have COVID-19, they should contact their individual healthcare provider.

Community members with questions regarding COVID-19 should call the Utah Coronavirus Information Line: 800-456-7707.

GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS

The District will continue to share information and letters provided by local health officials to communicate timely information to parents.

Schools should post reference signs and posters to help remind the school community, students and employees, strategies for handwashing, personal hygiene and wellness practices.

Schools keep their facility clean by adhering to industry standards for preventing the spread of illness. These standards are kept by employing touchpoint techniques for high traffic areas such as restrooms, doorknobs, drinking fountains and computer keyboards.

In addition, all high-traffic areas, including student desks and lunch tables, will be disinfected each evening after school.

Schools deep clean to combat specific illnesses by using specialized chemicals and tools, such as electrostatic sprayers, which cover an entire area with a virus and bacteria fighting disinfectant. Visit www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2 for a list of disinfectants known to eliminate the virus that causes COVID-19.

Schools may discourage the use of perfect attendance awards and incentives.

Schools encourage parents to take extra precaution and seek a medical evaluation from their healthcare provider if returning from travel to areas where community spread of COVID-19 has been identified. Remind parents to contact their healthcare provider before going into the office to help avoid any unintentional exposure.

In cases where a quarantine has been issued, clearance for return to school, must be given by the Wasatch County Health Department Epidemiology staff.

The District will confirm clearance to the school administrator and supervisor.

Schools will counsel with District leadership to determine the need to postpone or cancel trips that could expose students and staff to potential community spread of COVID-19.

GUIDANCE TO PARENTS

Take extra precaution and seek a medical evaluation from your healthcare provider if returning from areas where community spread COVID-19 has been identified. Please call your provider to let them know about the situation before showing up at their office.

Parents should follow guidance they have received from health officials.

Parents can help by reminding and teaching their children the importance of good personal hygiene and wellness practices.

The best way to stop the spread of disease is frequent and thorough hand washing (especially after using the restroom and prior to eating meals).  Wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Remember to practice good hygiene etiquette (cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or, if a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into an upper sleeve – never into your hands

Stay home when you are sick.

UCHD recommends students stay home when they meet the following COVID-19 symptoms:

·      They have a fever of 100.5 or higher

·      They are experiencing shortness of breath

·      They have a sustained cough accompanied by fever and/or shortness of breath

Household cleaners are effective in killing the COVID-19 (CDC)

Additional information and resources are available at Utah Department of Health (coronavirus.utah.gov).