Port Jefferson Superintendent's Letter On Coronavirus

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — The Port Jefferson School District reminded parents and guardians of measures to take regarding the deadly COVID-19, known as the coronavirus. Superintendent Jessica Schmettan posted a message in February to inform people how to combat the disease's spread.

"Due to the growing media coverage and concerns people may have regarding Coronavirus (2019-nCOoV), we are sharing the following information that has been provided to us by the NYS Department of Health and the NYS Department of Education," Schmettan wrote.

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against the virus, though the district is taking the recommendations of the state Department of Health to minimize the spread of all respiratory viruses, including the new virus.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
• Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• CDC recommends that travelers avoid all travel to China.

Health experts believe the virus probably spreads from animals to humans and from person-to-person, the letter said.

As of Feb. 2, new screening protocols are conducted for people entering the United States from China at designated airports, officials said.

"PreK-12 schools may have students who attend school and have traveled to various areas in Asia, including China," the letter said. "Students should not be excluded from school or any school activities based on race, country of origin, or recent travel (or a family member's recent travel), including to any part of China. Schools may only exclude a student if a local health department informs the school that a student must comply with a quarantine order or the student is symptomatic of a communicable or infectious disease pursuant to Education Law §906."

Read the full COVID-19 letter from the Port Jefferson School District here.

Related:

• Cuomo Signs $40M Bill To Battle Coronavirus
• First Coronavirus Case Confirmed In NYC: Officials
• 2nd Case Of Coronavirus Confirmed In New York
• 6 Now Confirmed With Coronavirus In NY
• 11 Cases Of Coronavirus In New York: Cuomo

11 cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in New York, officials said Wednesday.

Tensions over how to contain the coronavirus escalated Tuesday in the United States as the death toll climbed to nine, The Associated Press reported. Lawmakers expressed doubts about whether the government can ramp up testing to effectively mitigate the spread. All the deaths happened in Washington State, and most lived at a nursing home. The number of cases in the United States overall has risen past 100 in at least 15 states, with 27 in Washington, the AP reported.

Current symptoms reported for people with COVID-19 include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing, the fedeal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The virus is spreading from person to person, and someone sickened with the virus can spread it to others, medical officials said. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the new coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

The CDC recommends preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, such as:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home if sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue away.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

For more information, click here.