Coronavirus Update
Ganado ISD efforts
Latest Superintendent Letter Regarding Ganado ISD and the Coronavirus' Situation
Superintendent's Message
Below is the letter posted in our page.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Videos
The following videos were created as part of CDC-TV’s Health Matters series for the general public and public health professionals.
We encourage you to watch these videos and learn more about how you can keep you and your family healthy by practicing improved hygiene. If you are a public health professional, you can use these videos to raise awareness and educate your community on healthy hygiene behaviors.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
What is the Coronavirus or COVID-19 virus?
The Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports several cases in the United States, and no cases in Texas (as of Feb. 28, 2020).
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, Cough, and Shortness of Breath.
How is COVID-19 spread?
According to the CDC, the virus that causes COVID-19 belongs to a family of viruses called “coronavirus.” There are other viruses in the coronavirus family that can cause illness in both humans and animals These viruses can cause either mild illness like a cold or can make people very sick with pneumonia. This particular coronavirus has not been seen previously in humans. The virus is likely to be spread from person to person. Since the virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads.
Can someone who has COVID-19 spread the illness to others?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.
How long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials and involves considering specifics of each situation including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient.
Current CDC guidance for when it is OK to release someone from isolation is made on a case by case basis and includes meeting all of the following requirements:
- The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
- The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.
- Someone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.
How will I know if I or my children have the flu or COVID-19?
While both these illnesses are respiratory viruses with symptoms of fever and a cough, it is recommended that anyone experiencing these symptoms visit a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
What can I do to prevent being infected or spreading the virus?
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a covered trashcan.
- If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
What is the district doing to protect students and staff?
Ganado ISD is following the guidance of Jackson County Health Department, which is working closely with the CDC, Texas Department of State Health Services, local governments, and health care providers to prepare for and respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation.
Ganado ISD Health Services has issued guidance for our school nurse to use in identifying and assessing the health status of students or staff who are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
What will the district do if someone at a school or office is diagnosed with COVID-19?
If both exposure and symptoms of fever or respiratory illness are present, the nurse is instructed to inform the principal, isolate the individual, and contact our main office for additional guidance.
Where necessary, cleaning and disinfection will take place in accordance with Department of Environmental Health Services Standard Operation Procedures recommendations.
Will warm weather stop the outbreak of COVID-19?
It is not yet known whether weather and temperature impact the spread of COVID-19. Some other viruses, like the common cold and flu, spread more during cold weather months but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with these viruses during other months. At this time, it is not known whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when weather becomes warmer. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing.
Content sources:
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases
- Dallas ISD (https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/62300)
Additional resources
Ganado ISD
Email: jhardwick@ganadoisd.net
Website: https://www.ganadoisd.org/Page/1
Location: Ganado Independent School District, 6th Street, Ganado, TX, USA
Phone: 361- 771-4200