Critical Update Scarborough Schools
December 7, 2020
COVID-19 Notification Letter
Dear Scarborough Public Schools Families and Staff,
This letter is to inform you that a person from Wentworth School has tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are in the process of working closely with the Maine CDC to ensure all protocols are being followed. Staff and students who came in contact with this individual may have been exposed to the virus and have been contacted. We are informing the greater community now out of an abundance of caution. Please monitor yourself/your student for signs and symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start.
This individual was mostly recently at school on Friday, December 4. District medical staff and administrators are working closely with the Maine CDC to mitigate the impact, and have identified potential “close contacts”, identified as anyone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes within 24 hours.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 years and older and in those with underlying conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include:
• fever or chills • cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • fatigue
• muscle or body aches • headache
• new loss of taste or smell • sore throat
• congestion or runny nose • nausea or vomiting or diarrhea
Please keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students and staff should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations.
All identified close contacts will need to quarantine for 10 days from last exposure to the positive individual, per the Maine CDC. A negative test result does not replace the need for an individual to quarantine.
Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, which is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Thanks to the protocols in place, we received timely communication about this individual. Questions for the school can be directed to school nurses Anne Ornstein or Cindy Fasulo at 730-4610 or 730-4611 or at aornstein@scarboroughschools.org or cfasulo@scarboroughschools.org . For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Sincerely,
Sanford Prince IV