Falls Church Schools Prepare For Potential Coronavirus Response

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Falls Church City Public Schools is preparing a potential response should it be impacted by the new coronavirus, COVID-19. The school district continues to operate normally.

No cases of the new coronavirus have been identified to date in Falls Church. The Virginia Department of Health confirmed two coronavirus cases, both of which are in Northern Virginia. The first confirmed Virginia case involved a U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, who is being treated at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The Marine had traveled to Ethiopia on official business. The other case involves a Fairfax City man who had been on a Nile River cruise. The cases are presumptive positive, which means they still need to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FCCPS Superintendent Peter Noonan said in a message to families the school district is monitoring the coronavirus situation and would share additional information if a change should arise in Falls Church or greater Fairfax County.

The school district will be sharing its potential response on instruction, family support and operations if the new coronavirus should impact schools. Noonan said FCCPS is emphasizing prevention and hygiene efforts and following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Fairfax County Health Department.

The new coronavirus, COVID-19, was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. According to the CDC, it is thought to spread between people within about six feet of each other through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Symptoms appear within 14 days of being exposed to an infectious person.

The Virginia Department of Health is encouraging people to follow these behaviors:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid contact with sick people.

FCCPS has created a webpage for coronavirus updates. Residents can learn more about the new coronavirus from these official sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Virginia Department of Health and Fairfax County Health Department.