March 6, 2020 --
Dear Parents,
We are reaching out again to provide an update about the respiratory disease COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. Presently, the risk of contracting the Coronavirus in Medfield still remains low.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued an updated Travel Health Alert on Wednesday, March 4th for all US residents, instructing travelers returning from countries with a Level 3 alert (currently China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy) to stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the US. The guidance also instructs travelers returning from a country with a Level 2 alert (currently Japan) to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the US. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html) Please notify Kathy Thompson, MPS Nurse Leader at kthompson@email.medfield.net or 508-242-8573 if your child has recently traveled to any of these countries (China, South Korea, Iran, Italy or Japan).
In addition, Governor Baker has also requested that all schools suspend international trips. Our MHS trips to China and Italy scheduled for April have been canceled. We will continue to monitor the situation and will notify you of any changes for scheduled domestic or local field trips.
The school custodians have received additional training on cleaning and disinfecting products and techniques, additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed, lessons on handwashing technique and use of hand sanitizers are being reinforced in the elementary schools and colorful posters with reminders on cough etiquette and hand hygiene have been put up around the schools.
Please continue to reinforce at home, prevention measures recommended by the CDC and the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), which include:
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If unable to wash, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your face
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands)
- Clean and disinfect frequently used/touched surfaces
- Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick and stay home if you are sick
- Do not return to school or work until you are fever free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducing medicine
We continue to work closely with the Town Administrator, School Nurses, Board of Health, School Physician, and the Medfield Fire and Police Departments and are in contact with the MA Department of Public Health, Center for Disease Control and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. As you can imagine, new information is being shared almost daily
Sincerely,
Jeffrey J. Marsden Superintendent of Schools