Important Notice From MDPH SHU
Regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
Greetings!
We understand that many of you who may have students traveling internationally, or house residential students that may have traveled recently, have questions regarding the recent outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China and what school staff should be doing in response.
The role of the MADPH School Health Unit is to pass along information and guidance from our Bureau of Infectious Disease and the National Centers for Disease Control.
We cannot issue guidance for schools unless directed to do so by either/both of these entities.
Currently, Massachusetts is considered low-risk and is not routinely screening flights, as no direct flights from Wuhan come into our airports.
If a school/school district has specific concerns about their planned or recent school activities, they should connect with their local health authorities and/or with the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (617-983-6800) and request to speak with the Epidemiologist on call for specific guidance.
The most recent DPH advisory, that was published 1/22/2020, can be located here:
Karen
Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN
< she, her, hers >
Director of School Health Services
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Bureau of Community Health & Prevention
250 Washington Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108
617-624-5427