Concord School District Spray Cleaning To Fight Coronavirus, Flu

CONCORD, NH — The Concord School District began disinfecting high traffic areas of the city's school buildings in response to concerns about the new coronavirus. Interim School Superintendent Franklyn Bass said due to concerns across the state with COVID-19 — including a presumptive positive in Grafton County, and the quarantining of students of the Kearsarge, Timberlane, and Winnacunnet school districts — SAU 8 was taking steps to ensure children and staffers are safe from the virus. To start, Bass is asking all residents with family members or children who traveled to Italy, China, or "other countries with high impact of coronavirus," to let school officials know so they can "take proper precautions."

In the event that a staffer or student comes down with coronavirus, state officials will be notified, Bass said. The state epidemiologist will also ensure those individuals are quarantined for two weeks. This would include siblings of any infected child.

Bass said schools would also close for a period of two days to "to completely disinfect the building so students and staff are safe to return."

School principals and nursing staff in the district have been contacted about extra precautions the district is taking including spray cleaning all "highly-used surfaces" in every school building. The district is using a Victory Sprayer, an electro-static spray that cleans and disinfects on contact.

"This will be done on a daily basis," he said. "Doorknobs, handles, countertops, desktops, and other frequented areas are now targeted for this 'scrub' cleaning which will be good not only against the new virus but against colds and flu, as well."

School official are also circulating the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Information for Schools to parents and staff.

According to the state, only one person, a Dartmouth-Hitchcock employee who recently returned from a trip to Italy, exhibited symptoms, and is a presumptive positive. That person's test is currently being tested again by the Centers for Disease Control.

Six New Hampshire residents have been tested and confirmed negative for the virus. Four people have tests pending, according to the state.

ALSO READ:

• Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Test In NH Prompts Investigation
• New Hampshire's First Coronavirus Case Reported In Grafton County
• What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? CDC pdf
• Media Facing Challenges In Covering Coronavirus Outbreak
• DHHS: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Worker Is 1st To Test Positive in NH for COVID-19
• An Outbreak Of Coronavirus Misinformation: AP Fact Check
• Officials Say Fourth Granite Stater Tested For Coronavirus
• NH Students Just Back From European Trip Will Stay Home Over Coronavirus Fears
• 'Certainly Possible' N.H. Sees Coronavirus Spread: State Doctor
• State Says 2 With 2019 Novel Coronavirus Symptoms Test Negative
• 2 In NH Who Returned From China Have Coronavirus Symptoms

Got a news tip? Send it to me at tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella.