Information And Resources About Coronavirus In Portland

From Portland Public Schools:

February 28, 2020

Dear PPS families, We have been receiving questions and concerns from our community about news of the novel coronavirus (respiratory illness) called COVID-19. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that had not been seen in humans before. The following information is courtesy of our public health partners at Multnomah County.

As of February 27, 2020, there have been no cases of COVID-19 in Oregon.

If there were a case in Multnomah County, the health department will be proactively contacting household members of cases of COVID-19 and requesting that they self-isolate, meaning not attend school or work, for 14 days after their last contact with the infectious person. In the event that a classroom of individuals is exposed to a student, teacher, or other staff with confirmed COVID-19, Multnomah County Health Department will likely exclude the entire classroom for 14 days after the last exposure.

The district is closely monitoring this situation and is in frequent contact with public health authorities. The internal team actively reviewing coronavirus developments includes the Superintendent, our principals, and staff from Communications, Emergency Management, Student Health, and Facilities.

Public health officials currently advise that schools do not need to take any special precautions beyond those normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses.

You can help yourself and your student(s) to reduce their risk for getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by encouraging them to take simple steps which will also prevent COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue, sleeve, or elbow (not hands) when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands.
• If you or someone in your household is sick, stay home and follow the guidance of your healthcare provider.
• Keep your immune system strong by eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and regular exercise, and by taking care of underlying health conditions.

There are also basic steps every household should take to prepare for any unexpected event:

• Learn about your employer’s sick leave and telecommuting policies.
• Establish a childcare plan in the event your kids need to stay home from school.
• Make sure you have the kinds of foods, drinks, medications and pet supplies you would want if you needed to stay home and limit your contact with other people for a couple weeks.
• Get to know your neighbors, especially those who might need extra help like seniors or people living alone.
• In the face of rumors, check us/covid19 for reliable information.

More information and ongoing updates from public health officials are available online, including:

• Multnomah County Health Department: https://multco.us/health-officer/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
• Oregon Health Authority (OHA): https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/emerging-respiratory-infections.aspx
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Communicable Disease Guidance: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Documents/commdisease.pdf

This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.