Update on Coronavirus and Flu Season for Staff, Students and Parents
Update on Coronavirus and Flu Season for Staff, Students and Parents
Jan. 27, 2020
We would like to provide our school communities with some information regarding flu season and the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
We understand that this issue may be causing some concern among our school communities.
Jan. 27, 2020 Letter to Parents
The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our main priority and the Board is working closely with the three public health units in our jurisdiction to ensure we receive and can communicate the most up-to-date information about this coronavirus.
In addition to concerns about this coronavirus, we have been experiencing a higher than usual rate of absenteeism in some schools due to the flu, which is common at this time of year. In response to this, we have initiated our Pro-Active Outbreak Cleaning Protocol in all of our buildings as a precaution.
Members of the public are advised by public health officials to take the usual measures to reduce the risk of transmission of the flu and respiratory illness, which include:
- get a yearly influenza vaccination, available from clinics and pharmacies (for flu only);
- wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
- cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze;
- if you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm;
- stay home if you are ill.
We would also like to provide this letter from Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer for the province of Ontario, which contains important information about the current public health response to the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
As Dr. Williams says in his letter, “Students, parents and school communities should rest assured that the province is working together in close cooperation with its partners in both the education and health care sectors to ensure the continued safety and well-being of students and staff.”
Families may wish to contact their local public health unit for additional information specific to their communities. Several webpage links are included below.
Most importantly, students who are sick should be kept home, and not attend either regular school or before/after school programs until they are free of symptoms.
Ministry of Health
https://www.ontario.ca/page/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Peterborough Public Health
https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/
Durham Public Health
https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/health-and-wellness.aspx