In compliance with the March 26 Executive Order from Gov. Brian Kemp, the Bibb County School District will remain closed through April 24. This also includes athletic practices, games and other events, which are all postponed until after April 24.
All Bibb County School District schools have been closed since March 16 to limit the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The District will communicate with local and state health officials, as well as the Georgia Department of Education and Gov. Kemp’s office, to make a determination about when it is safe to reopen schools. In the interim, students and teachers will be expected to participate in eLearning.
Additionally, following guidance from the CDC, all District events and functions have been canceled until further notice. This includes proms, field days, field trips and student assemblies for the remainder of the school year. No decision about graduation ceremonies will be made until a later date.
When schools reopen, custodial and maintenance staff in all school buildings will continue to use a hospital-grade disinfectant and take extended measures in sanitizing high-touch areas in addition to daily, routine cleaning and sanitizing measures already in place. Additionally, schools will continue to ensure soap is provided in all bathrooms.
The Bibb County School District will continue to work alongside health partners and emergency management officials at the state and local levels to monitor updates regarding the spread of COVID-19. Local organizations, like the Bibb County School District, Macon-Bibb County government entities, the North Central Health District and local hospitals, are attending and participating in frequent briefings to determine how each organization can best assist in preventing the spread of the disease and better inform the public on what they can do.
There are several things that can be done right now to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash hands often with soap and hot water; wash hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Avoid contact with people who are ill.
- If you have cold-like symptoms: Stay home while you are sick; avoid close contact with other people; cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing; wash hands regularly; and disinfect surfaces and objects.
- Avoid travel to active COVID-19 areas. It is recommended to practice enhanced precautions if you are traveling to active COVID-19 areas, especially for older adults, infants and those with compromised immune systems.
The coronavirus is spread in ways similar to other viruses like the flu, including coughing; sneezing; close personal contact (shaking hands, touching, etc.); and touching contaminated surfaces and then your eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to a variety of illnesses (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people showing symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the illness to others. The use of facemasks is crucial to healthcare workers and people who are taking care of someone in a close setting, such as a healthcare facility or residence.
Additionally, the flu is still widespread and active throughout the state, so if you have not already gotten a flu shot, it is not too late. While the flu shot will not protect against COVID-19, it will prevent serious complications that require hospitalization and prevent overburdening the health care system in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
