LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education said it’s working with local health officials to monitor conditions with regard to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Although the threat of a coronavirus outbreak is low, Rob Young of the Lake County Office of Education is working closely with Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace to help prepare in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak within the Lake County schools.
On Feb. 10, Dr. Pace sent a letter to school administrators recommending the following preventative measures to help reduce the chance of an influenza or COVID-19 outbreak within the classroom:
– Encourage students and staff to stay home when they have a fever plus any other symptoms. Those who have a fever at school should go home and stay home until fever-free for at least 24 hours.
– Separate sick students and staff from others until they can be taken home.
– Promote good hand hygiene among students and staff through education, scheduled time for handwashing, and availability of soap and water and/or hand sanitizer.
– Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth.
– Teach and encourage proper cough etiquette – cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve or arm (do not use hands).
Custodial and other staff within Lake County schools are taking extra precautions to keep surfaces disinfected and clean.
“At the height of H1N1, staff at some Lake County schools were disinfecting every desk on a nightly basis,” Young said.
If the local school sites notice unusual changes in sickness patterns, they will call the students’ guardians to find out the nature of the illness.
In the event that there is a spike in influenza-related symptoms, the schools will notify Young at the Lake County Office of Education, who will then notify Dr. Pace.
Dr. Pace will work with the Lake County Office of Education and the affected school-site to determine next steps.
If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 within a Lake County school, the infected student will be required to stay home for 14 days.
Schools have the option to issue makeup work or independent study during that time, so the student will not fall behind.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, so recommendations may change.
“The Lake County Office of Education will work diligently with the Lake County Health officer, and monitor the situation closely. In turn, we will keep our school districts apprised of any recommendation changes for the health and safety of our students,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
Lake County schools take precautions against a coronavirus outbreak
- Lake County News reports
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