Southampton Schools Undergoing Cleaning Process Following Enterovirus Diagnosis

Southampton Elementary School will reopen on Thursday in order to complete the cleaning process after a student at the school was diagnosed with enterovirus on Tuesday (Read the original Patch story here), Superintendent Scott Farina said.

According to a notice on the district’s website, the entire bus fleet was thoroughly disinfected and the cleaning at the elementary school will be completed Wednesday so the school can reopen on Thursday.

Although the Southampton Intermediate School and Southampton High School did not have any confirmed cases of the virus, both buildings will be cleaned “out of an abundance of caution”, according to the update posted by Farina.

The intermediate school will be cleaned on Thursday, but the district is still awaiting a date and time from the cleaning company for the high school. According to Farina, the cleaning process for both schools will not result in school closures or cause disruption to student instruction.

The cleaning process includes disinfecting the buildings and applying an antibacterial product to prevent the spread of germs.

As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is paramount and I believe you can never be too cautious when responding to health concerns,” Farina wrote. “The district has consulted with the Department of Health and our actions to conduct a district wide cleanse is above and beyond their recommendations.”

Faring said the infected student, who is currently out of school and seeking treatment, does not have the D68 strain of enterovirus, which has been confirmed in five children on Long Island and has killed two children nationwide.

According to the Center for Disease Control website, every year millions of children in the United States catch enteroviruses that can cause coughing, sneezing and fever.

To help avoid catching and spreading the enterovirus, Farina said parents and children should always follow basic steps to stay healthy:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging and sharing cups or utensils, with people who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirtsleeve, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
• Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children out of school.