UPDATED
While federal health officials have said that the coronavirus is potentially a serious public health threat, most Americans, at this point, are not at risk. That, however, is not stopping educators from worrying and wondering how best to prepare for a possible case of coronavirus in their own schools and communities.
So far, there have been five confirmed cases in the United States of the new respiratory illness that first broke out in Wuhan, China and has sickened more than 4,500 people there. In total, there are 6,000 reported cases globally and more than 100 people have died, although there have been no deaths in the U.S.
Although there are only a handful of confirmed cases here at home, some schools have had to grapple with the possibility that their students were exposed to the coronavirus.
In Florida鈥檚 Palm Beach County, a group of from school after having been potentially exposed to coronavirus while attending a Model United Nations event at Yale University, according to the Palm Beach Post. The event was canceled midway through when a Chinese student was taken to a local hospital with a cough and a fever. Test results to see if the student has coronavirus haven鈥檛 come back yet, but the student did test positive for the flu.
A charter school in Philadelphia had a scare when a Chinese exchange student got sick, but tests later showed the student did not have coronavirus. The school, however, , according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Some Schools Are Taking Precautions on Coronavirus
Schools in other parts of the country have been taking preventative measures.
The Fairfax County participating in a foreign exchange program, according to the local CBS affiliate.
Other districts, such as Chicago Public Schools and have sent out information to their families with guidance on preventing the spread of viruses including:
- Thoroughly washing hands for at least 20 seconds;
- Using hand sanitizer when washing hands with soap and water is not available;
- Disinfecting surfaces;
- Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or cloth when sneezing;
- Staying away from sick people, and staying home if you, yourself, are sick.
鈥淎s you know, this is the annual influenza season, so the usual prevention methods are recommended by the CDC,鈥� said Linda Mendonca, the president elect of the National Association of School Nurses.
Custodial staff also play an important role in slowing the spread of any virus, she said, especially by disinfecting surfaces such as door handles that students and staff frequently touch.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has some guidance for and the people who must take care of them, but the CDC does not have any specific guidance on coronavirus for schools.
However, the CDC remains an important resource for school leaders, said Mendonca, as do local health agencies.
鈥淭hey need to go to their local health departments for guidance, because this is evolving each day,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing aware and knowledgeable is important.鈥�
Finally, a couple of school districts in Arizona are warning families to be on the look out for coronavirus hoaxes, . A fake breaking news alert claiming that students who attend Mesa Public Schools had contracted the coronavirus was circulating on social media.
UPDATE: This story was updated to include quotes from an official with the National School Nurses Association.
Photo: Some revelers wear face masks during a Chinese New Year celebration in Brooklyn, N.Y., last weekend. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)