Harford County Public Schools Issues Coronavirus Notice

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Harford County Public Schools personnel are keeping tabs on the new coronavirus situation. The school system outlined its protocol and precautions in a statement that officials said was a response to numerous inquiries from "anxious parents and residents."

As in all health-related matters, Harford County Public Schools reported its staff was working with and getting guidance from the Harford County Health Department, Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new coronavirus is a "rapidly changing situation and one which we are monitoring closely," Harford County Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday.

Two people in Maryland have tested negative for the new coronavirus.

No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Harford County or in Maryland, Harford County Public Schools reported.

Globally, more than 81,000 people have been infected and over 2,700 people have died from the new coronavirus, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday.

There have been 15 cases in the United States, "with only one new case detected in the last two weeks," U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said at a press conference about the new coronavirus Wednesday night.

"The immediate risk to the American public has been and continues to be low," he said.

"At the same time," Azar continued, "the degree of risk has the potential to change quickly, and we can expect to see more cases in the United States. That is why we've been reminding the American public and our state, local and private-sector partners that they should be aware of what a broader response would look like. [The] CDC has recommended that the American public and especially state and local governments, businesses and other organizations should refresh themselves on how they would respond in the event that the situation worsens."

The town of Bel Air announced Tuesday that it was beginning to review its contingency plan in the event of a pandemic.

Related: Bel Air Begins Planning For Coronavirus Pandemic

Said Azar: "We're encouraging Americans to learn what future steps might be necessary to keep themselves and their community safe. Knowing these potential steps now can help keep the risk to you and your community low."

Harford County Public Schools encouraged people to practice good hygiene, including staying home when sick.

"The current recommended precautions to avoid exposure to the virus are the same precautions you would take to avoid the flu," Harford County Public Schools said in a statement. Officials recommended washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and not touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

"The virus may live on surfaces such as desks and doorknobs, so as a safeguard, custodial staff will continue to regularly clean classrooms and common areas," Harford County Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday.

Below is the letter about coronavirus Harford County Public Schools issued Wednesday.

February 26, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in China and subsequent positive cases in the United States continues, our school system and Harford County Department of Health are fielding an increasing number of questions from anxious parents and residents. Please know that, as we do in all health-related cases, we are working closely together and receiving additional guidance from the Harford County Health Department, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is also important to understand that as of this writing, we have no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Harford County or in Maryland. This is a rapidly changing situation, and one which we are monitoring closely.

According to the CDC, most people get infected with viruses in the coronavirus family at some point in their lives. The 2019 novel strain at the center of the current issue is a new one and has a more severe impact in terms of respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The CDC is still studying how the virus spreads, though it is thought at this point to be spread much like the flu.

Practicing good hygiene can help to limit the spread of viruses in our schools. The virus may live on surfaces such as desks and doorknobs, so as a safeguard, custodial staff will continue to regularly clean classrooms and common areas.

The current recommended precautions to avoid exposure to the virus are the same precautions you would take to avoid the flu. To keep your family safe:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick and do not return to work or school until you have been fever- free without the use of fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours.
• Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash; if tissues aren’t available, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 but there is a vaccine for seasonal influenza which is recommended for all persons over the age of 6 months.

We will be continuing our partnerships with public health experts and updating you when new relevant information is available. You may find additional information at:

Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

Maryland Department of Health https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx

Harford County Health Department: https://harfordcountyhealth.com/coronavirus/

Thank you for your cooperation to keep our children and our schools healthy.

Sincerely,
Sean W. Bulson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools

2/26/2020 4:59:11 PM