District 41 Offers Coronavirus Updates, Deep Cleans Daily

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Glen Ellyn School District 41 is taking proactive steps as the coronavirus has reached a pandemic status per the World Health Organization. District Superintendent Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski shared an update Thursday they have been deep cleaning with hospital grade cleaners, have started a coronavirus web page and have prepped an e-learning plan as precautions.

At press time, no students at District 41 schools have tested positive for coronavirus or had confirmed contact with a patient, Kaczkowski wrote.

The school district says it deep cleans at the end of each school day and does additional cleaning on weekends before students return to classes. Schools have also been equipped with extra soap and sanitizers and school nurses have been training students and staff to properly wash their hands.

As far as events and cancellations go, Kaczkowski added, "We continue to analyze the need to close school or suspend events. We will continue to work with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and our local health departments. This could change at any time and we will communicate any cancellations or closures should they be needed in the future."

Kaczkowski said that if classes end up being canceled, District 41 would implement an e-learning plan similar to that put in place when weather is inclement. Parents and students can also check for updates on the District 41 coronavirus update web page.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, called SARS-Cov-2, emerged in China in late 2019 and is related to other strains that have caused serious illnesses in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, some of these preventive measures include:

• Staying home when ill
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue
• Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Using hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
• Avoiding touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoiding close contact with sick people
• Cleaning surfaces and objects that are touched frequently

If you feel sick and worry you may have been exposed to coronavirus, you can contact the Coronavirus Disease Hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or your health care provider unless you are experiencing an urgent, serious medical emergency.

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