Cherry Hill Schools Issue Statement On Coronavirus

CHERRY HILL, NJ — After the Centers for Disease Control warned on Tuesday that American schools, businesses, and communities should prepare for the novel coronavirus, the Cherry Hill Public School District is encouraging students to use proper hygiene, including hand washing, to prevent the spread of disease.

"The Cherry Hill School District is working closely with state and county health officials to monitor updates regarding this illness and the potential impact it may have on our community," Cherry Hill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Meloche said in an email to parents on Thursday. "We will keep you updated with information as it becomes available to us. Maintaining healthy learning environments is a key focus for all of us. As of now, no cases of Coronavirus have been identified in our community."

The district offered the following tips to prevent the spread of disease:

• Remind children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, multiple times throughout the day;
• Remind children not to share personal items like drinks, food, or unwashed utensils;
• Remind children to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. If tissues are unavailable, use the elbow, arm or sleeve;
• Do not send children to school if they are sick. Our nurses will be closely monitoring student health and sick children will be sent home; and
• Keep sick children home for at least 24 hours after the cessation of symptoms or the absence of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication.

"Thank you for spending time discussing these items with your children," Meloche said. "We can work together to support our children and our community. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me."

Globally, at least 80,000 people have been infected and 2,700 people have died from the new coronavirus, creating a global pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. It is spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.

On Thursday, the CDC confirmed thefirst known case of the coronavirus in the United States not to result from travel to an affected region or contact with another person already known to have contracted the infection.

There have been no cases in New Jersey so far. But state officials say they're preparing for a spread of the disease across the region. Read more: NJ Preparing For Coronavirus Outbreak After Dire CDC Warning