Coronavirus Outbreak Spurs Changes To FCPS Exchange Program

MCLEAN, VA — Exchange students who traveled to Fairfax County from China where the coronavirus outbreak is happening will not be attending classes at Longfellow Middle School, according to the school district.

Longfellow Middle School principal Carole Kihm announced the decision to families in a letter Wednesday, Jan. 22, the day the exchange program was scheduled to begin. The school district also told Fox5 the students will stay at hotels rather than with host families as a precaution.

WTOP reported that the students came in from John F. Kennedy International Airport, which was screening for coronavirus. The students are from Yichang in the Hubei province, which more than 200 miles from where the worst of the coronavirus is centered. There was no indication of illness among the students, a FCPS spokesperson told WTOP.

"Student and staff health and safety remain our first priority," reads the letter to families. "While health officials believe the risk of illness transmission of the novel Coronavirus from these students is extremely low, we felt it necessary to make this adjustment."

Longfellow Middle School is helping cultural and educational activities in the DC area for the students as an alternative.

Coronaviruses is a family of viruses, some of which cause respiratory illness in humans, according to the CDC. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the coronavirus caused 17 deaths in the Hubei province and sickened over 570 people, mostly in the province. The CDC has confirmed a case in the U.S. in Washington state but believes the risk to the U.S. at large remains low.

The virus outbreak was initially believed to be spreading from animal to person, but officials believe limited person-to-person spreading is occurring. The CDC says "it's unclear how easily this virus is spreading between people." Symptoms include fever, cough and trouble breathing.