Coronavirus Update for Schools and Families

02/26/2020 -

SCOE is working closely with the Sonoma County Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education to ensure that local school districts are prepared to address any instances of Coronavirus within the county. While the risk to Sonoma County residents is still very low, we are working hard to be prepared for any scenario. In early February, SCOE held a meeting with the county public health officer and helped provide guidance to schools. An update with new information and resources was sent out on Wednesday, Feb. 26. SCOE is working to schedule an additional meeting with the county health department in order to provide school districts the best information possible to plan and prepare.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the immediate risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus remains low for Americans, but more cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including in the United States.

Meanwhile, the California Department of Public Health, in guidance issued to schools and districts, says travelers from mainland China who arrive in the United States should stay home from school for 14 days as a precaution — beginning the day after they left China.

“Please note that there have been reports of students and others being stigmatized,” the CDPH guidance says. “We urge schools to ensure students’ and staffs’ privacy to help prevent discrimination.”

The state’s Public Health Department encourages students, parents and staff to continue taking everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including:
Staying home when sick
Washing hands frequently
Covering coughs with a sleeve or tissue
Having ample tissues within easy reach, as well as no-touch trash cans
Routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces
Separating sick students and staff from others until they can go home