Coronavirus Information
3/2/20
The Morgan County School System is working with the Alabama Department of Public Health to monitor the Coronavirus.
Although NO cases have been reported in Alabama, we are working closely with the state to plan and prepare in the event cases are reported in North Alabama.
After discussing with the State Health Department, we are taking the following actions to be as prepared as possible:
Ordering additional masks for the schools in the event we need to quarantine students who are running fevers.
Preparing for extra cleaning in the schools.
Possible spraying of buses with a 10% Clorox solution or other appropriate disinfectants at the end of each week. Foggers will be used on buses to help kill a series of viruses.
Immediate Actions we are taking to keep children safe.
- Cleaning high touchpoint areas. Those include, but are not limited to following:
- Door knobs
- Chromebooks
- Tables
- Desks
- Chairs
- Light switches
- Shareable Items (crayons, markers, glue)
Here are the following recommendations you can take to help prevent the spread of Novel Coronavirus
Stay Home when sick.
- These individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and must self-monitor symptoms for 14 days after leaving the affected area.
- Current areas of concern: China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- One must consider parents who may travel to these areas as well.
- Students and staff must contact ADPH Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks Division at 1-800-338-8374 immediately upon return to Alabama.
- These students and staff must be excluded from school for the duration of this monitoring period.
- They are asked to remain home and to avoid congregating group settings such as a church, concerts, buses, etc.
- Cover cough with a tissue or sleeve. See CDC's Cover Your Cough page. (www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/actions-prevent-flu.htm).
- Provide adequate supplies within easy reach, including tissues and no-touch trash cans.
- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as Chromebooks, laptops, phones, doorknobs, and desktops.
- Mist spraying rubbing alcohol on electronic devices and keyboards is effective but avoid over saturation.
- Separate sick students and staff from others until they can go home.
- Encourage flu vaccine for those who have not had it this season to reduce illnesses and absences on campus (however, this will not prevent coronavirus illnesses),
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available (most effective hand sanitizer). We strongly encourage taking appropriate time during the school day to thoroughly hand wash. Please encourage and model adequate and appropriate hand washing.
- Avoid touching the face with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Check in with family members who may have been on any travel.
- Morgan County Schools Communicable Disease policy is in compliance with ADPH guidance for Novel Coronavirus prevention. Our policy states that students with a temperature of >100 be sent home until fever-free for 24 hours. The ADPH guidelines state free of fever 100.4 or greater.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.
CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.
Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html