Worried about your child getting the coronavirus? Wake schools has advice for parents.
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Editor’s note: On Tuesday, March 3, North Carolina reported its first case of COVID-19, in a Wake County resident who was exposed at a Washington state long-term care facility. Find details on the case here.
The Wake County school system says it’s taking measures to prepare for any potential coronavirus outbreaks but is asking parents not to unnecessarily panic over the issue.
In a message posted on school websites Thursday, school leaders said Wake will follow guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the event of a local case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. School officials said they’re following the situation closely and are working with health officials to develop contingency plans should the situation escalate.
“We are also mindful of our actions as a district, making sure we do not take actions that could cause unnecessary public panic,” Wake says in its message. “We are coordinating with and following the recommendations of federal, state, and local health agencies with expertise addressing communicable diseases.”
Wake is North Carolina’s largest school system with nearly 162,000 students.
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Some parents have raised concerns about international travelers who may have been exposed to the coronavirus being in schools. In the message, the district says health organizations and not schools identify international travelers who may have been exposed to the virus.
Once health officials release a traveler from quarantine, they are deemed to not be contagious and can resume their normal activities, including going to school, school officials say.
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“If health officials have not placed someone under quarantine, they are allowed to be in our schools,” Wake says.
School leaders say health officials have told them to maintain regular, routine cleaning procedures in schools and approach coronavirus the same as they would the flu.
Practice good hygiene to prevent spread of illness
Tips for preventing the spread of illness include:
▪ Regular, thorough hand washing with soap and water
▪ Staying home if you or your child has had a fever, used fever-reducing medication, or experienced symptoms of illness within the past 24 hours.
The district says parents who suspect that they or an immediate family member may have been exposed to the coronavirus should call their medical provider or primary care physician.
Wake’s advice comes after state health officials held a news conference Wednesday saying there are no confirmed cases in North Carolina.
Health officials also urged businesses to think ahead about how to respond if employees must stay home to care for sick family members.
“We still consider the risk to North Carolinians to be very low, but we want to be as prepared as possible,” Elizabeth Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer with the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday.
The CDC said Tuesday that, with more cases being identified worldwide, it’s likely the virus will spread in the United States and the country should prepare for disruptions.
The World Health Organization reported more than 81,000 cases worldwide.
Earlier this month, the state set up a coronavirus helpline, The News & Observer has reported.
News & Observer reporter Lynn Bonner contributed to this story.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 12:30 PM.
