District 200 Schools Making 'Proactive' Moves Against Coronavirus

WHEATON, IL — Wheaton Community Unit School District says it is taking "proactive" steps against coronavirus in its schools. The news comes as high schools throughout the state are canceling classes and taking other steps in response to the worldwide outbreak, which has reached seven confirmed cases in Illinois as of press time.

In a recent email, District 200 Superintendent Jeff Schuler said "District 200 is following the guidance and expectations established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health." Schuler said the district is continuing to monitor the "health and wellness" of students while being "proactive in [its] cleaning practices."

Schuler said the district did a deep clean of its nearly two dozen schools in late February.

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.

Students and staff have been advised to take preventive measures against coronavirus contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 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

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Related:

• Illinois Coronavirus: 7th Case May Be From Community Transmission
• An Outbreak Of Coronavirus Misinformation: AP Fact Check
• Coronavirus Outbreak: Tips To Prepare At Home