Coronavirus: Just 'Precautionary' Concerns In Vernon

VERNON, CT — So far, concerns over the Coronavirus have not affected schedules in any schools in Vernon, nor any extracurricular activities.

No cancellations have been announced and school system officials are taking a "precautionary" approach to the matter, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said.

The one planned trip abroad is the annual middle school study excursion to Bermuda. Macary said it's still on.

There have been no reported cases of Coronavirus in Connecticut as of early this week. Several states across the United States have reported positive cases.

State and local health officials have issued some guidelines:

• Keep children who are sick at home. Don't send them to school. Consult your doctor.
• Teach children to wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Parents and caregivers can set a good example by doing this themselves.
• Teach children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.
• Monitor travel alerts issued by the CDC specific to COVID-19 if you are planning trips, particularly for the upcoming breaks.

For more tips, see the Connecticut Department of Public Health website:

• https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Public-Health-Preparedness/Main-Page/2019-Novel-Coronavirus