Dear Peregrine Community,
We are writing to share with you some of the steps our school is taking to prevent the spread of illness across our campuses, and plan for the possible spread of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in our community.
Current information: As of Wednesday, February 26, there was a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a Solano County resident who is currently being treated at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. This case is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as possibly the first patient with no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual. Because of the precautions in place since this patient’s arrival at the UCD Medical Center, it is believed there has been a minimal potential for exposure at the medical center.
UC Davis reports the following:
“To date, no one in Yolo County or on the UC Davis main campus has tested positive for COVID-19. We do want you to know, however, that out of an abundance of caution, three members of the campus community who had been living in Kearney Hall are currently in isolation. The CDC is testing one of them for COVID-19, and this person is not on campus. The other two individuals are asymptomatic, meaning they are not showing any symptoms of illness, so, following CDC guidance, they have not been tested.”
As the CDC emphasized, there is not currently a coronavirus pandemic in the United States. A pandemic occurs when a disease is spreading from a variety of sources across a large region, and the number of cases across the US is still small. However, given how quickly the global situation is evolving, we are monitoring new developments and will continue to reevaluate our steps and actions daily.
School efforts to protect the community: In the meantime, our staff will continue to use the following best practices, which are the most effective way to remain healthy and minimize the spread of infectious disease:
Enforce and supervise frequent, thorough handwashing of at least 20 seconds.
Enforce covering up coughs/sneezes and disposing of used tissues promptly in the trash.
Regularly sanitize commonly used surfaces such as faucets, restroom stall borders, door handles, toys, gates, etc.
Continue to follow routine restroom sanitizing routines.
Next week (3/2-3/6) will be a school-wide Peregrine School Hygiene Week. Hand-washing review and coughing/sneezing etiquette will be a daily part of your child’s Circle Time and meal transition routines.
Family efforts to protect the community: Your child should stay home if they have any respiratory disease symptoms such as a runny nose or cough, with or without a fever. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to COVID-19-related virus.
Please review the school illness policy in the Parent Handbook, in particular:
Students should not attend school within the first 24 to 48 hours of an apparent cold. Colds are most infectious at this point, and what looks like a minor runny nose in the morning may be flu by afternoon.
Students may not attend school until they have been free of [diarrhea, vomiting], and fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
School community preparedness and action: We are monitoring advisories and directives from the Yolo County Health Department. Our community is prepared to alter our procedures and planning should the situation change. We are also thinking ahead regarding the impact on spring break travel, upcoming school field trips, and other non-typical school activities in the context of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). We will communicate any changes affirmatively.
It is important to remember that handling the spread of a serious contagion like the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a task for public health agencies. We will follow any directives from the World Health Organization, CDC, and state and local governmental agencies.
Refer to the following links to stay informed:
(to reduce stigma and bullying related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19))
NOTE:
The California Department of Public Health does not recommend the use of face masks for general prevention and mentions that handwashing provides better protection from infectious diseases.
At this time, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Yolo County and flu remains the highest risk respiratory virus in California and Yolo County.
We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty, and anxiety in the community. The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families are our highest priority. In times like this, we are particularly grateful for the strength and togetherness of this community. While there is much we are learning about COVID-19, one thing we do know is that it has a high recovery rate.
We will continue to communicate updates as we have them.
Sincerely,
Peregrine School Directors