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Superintendent’s letter addresses coronavirus

Date: 3/11/2020

SOUTHWICK – Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District Superintendent Jennifer Williard recently sent a letter to families to address concerns raised by the public regarding the recent novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

“While we acknowledge this is a public health concern, the CDC continues to report that the risk of exposure remains low,” Williard wrote in the undated letter that was also posted on the district’s website and social media. “As of today, there are two confirmed cases in Massachusetts. Yet, in our ‘mobile’ world, the potential for the spread of this virus is always a concern.”

She later added, “The coronavirus disease 2019 is an evolving situation that we are following closely and we will continue to update you as information is shared with us. Please rest assured that we are monitoring student health concerns on a daily basis. We are sanitizing our school buildings as we typically do during the cold and flu season. We are following all recommended guidelines to ensure the safety and wellness of our staff and students.”

On March 8, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the total number of confirmed or presumptive positive cases in Massachusetts to 28. However, by March 10, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the DPH reporting 92 cases – one confirmed and 91 presumptive positive – including seven in Berkshire County.

The Department of Public Health stated it would issue updated guidance to superintendents on how to address cases that arise at a school, including potential school closures.

In addition, DESE will provides local schools with relief from attendance and school year requirements so that schools have the flexibility to make decisions on temporary closures due to coronavirus concerns. School districts will not be required to be in session past their scheduled 185th day or be in session after June 30. DESE will also disregard attendance data after March 2 when assessing district's chronic absenteeism for the 2019-20 school year.

DESE Commissioner Jeff Riley is strongly urging all districts to cancel all out-of-state travel in addition to the existing request for schools to cancel international trips.

According to the CDC, symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath may occur within two to 14 days following exposure to COVID-19. Reported cases have ranged from mild to severe, including some resulting in death and while most have been mild, a report out of China suggested serious illness occurs in 16 percent of cases. Older people and people with certain underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, seem to be at greater risk of serious illness.

Willard advised utilizing basic sanitary precautions for preventing the spread of flu or other illnesses, including proper handwashing and sanitizing, avoiding touching eyes, noses or mouths with unwashed hands, covering hands and noses with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing, and avoiding close contact with those who are sick whenever possible.

She also stressed the importance of keeping children home from school when they are sick, especially if they exhibit a temperature of 100.4 degrees, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, undiagnosed rashes, red or pink itchy eyes, drainage from eyea and any contagious illness such as chickenpox, strep throat or flu.

Children should stay home until they are feeling well and fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.