Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Parent Resources - COVID-19
Zionsville Community Schools is working closely with the Boone County Health Department, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused used by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The virus has been designated SARS-CoV-2, while the disease it causes has been designated COVID-19. The virus is rapidly spreading worldwide. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is not at all connected to race, ethnicity or nationality.
This is an evolving situation, and updates are available from the Indiana State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including updated Travel Notices for countries with community transmission.
This page is intended to provide information about COVID-19, precautions that are being taken and prevention measures you can take, as well as information on the effects of measures various governments are taking to stem the outbreak.
This page is not intended to be all-encompassing and should not be considered to be providing medical or legal advice. In all instances, you should consult with a relevant expert for guidance specific to your circumstances.
Lastly, please call the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 [317-233-1325 after hours] or e-mail [email protected] if you experience symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath and have a recent history of travel to highly affected areas or contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19.
What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing respiratory illness in people and others circulating among animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people. Previous coronavirus outbreaks have included severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes the risk to the American public of becoming infected with this novel coronavirus is currently low. Because this is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, the CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, including any changes in the risk assessment.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Coronavirus are similar to flu or colds and may include:
- Shortness of Breath
- Cough
- Fever
- A general feeling of being unwell
Please call the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 [317-233-1325 after hours] or e-mail [email protected] if you experience symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath and have a recent history of travel to highly affected areas or contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19.
How does it spread?
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
- The air by coughing and sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
Although we have a lot to learn about this virus, it is currently believed that it spreads like other respiratory viruses- by people with the infection coughing and sneezing. These droplets are inhaled by other people or moved to the eyes, nose or mouth by contaminated hands.
Should I keep my student home from school?
Students are safe to come to school. However, just like with any illness, families should keep students at home who are sick and show flu-like symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Body aches
- Tiredness
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Diarrhea
How do I help prevent the spread of viruses, including coronavirus?
You can reduce the risk of spreading coronaviruses by taking the same steps as you would to prevent infection from the flu and the common cold:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for a least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer, with 60-95% alcohol if water is not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and immediately dispose of the used tissue.
What kind of cleaning is happening around the district?
Our professional custodial staff is working hard every day to keep schools and buses clean and healthy for all students and staff. Specifically, our efforts to protect students and teachers from all virus and flu-like symptoms include sanitizing touchpoints. These touchpoints are places that are utilized frequently throughout the day:
- Door Handles / Knobs
- Door Push Bars
- Light Switches
- Sink Faucet Handles / Knobs
- Drinking Fountains
- Paper Towel Dispensers
- Hand Soap Dispensers
- Stairwell Handrails
- Toilet / Urinal Handles
- Toilet Stall Door Handles
- Counter Tops/Desktops
- Elevator Control Buttons
- Pencil Sharpeners
Who should seek medical evaluation for COVID-19?
Students, staff, and volunteers who are:
- Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have traveled from China or other highly affected areas in the last 14 days.
- Ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have been identified by public health officials as a recent close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for COVID-19 infection.
What is close contact?
A close contact is a person who has been within about 6 feet of a person with confirmed novel coronavirus infection for a prolonged period of time or has had direct contact with secretions from a person with confirmed novel coronavirus infection.
What can I do to prevent COVID-19 infections in my school?
You can help students and staff 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. These include:
- Staying home when they are sick.
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after they blow their nose. Help young children do the same. If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water to clean hands.
- If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Advising persons to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Following the school's routine cleaning and disinfection program. Emphasizing to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).
- Urging students and staff to get a flu shot during the flu season.
- Providing adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional hand-washing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer.
I feel anxious about coronavirus. What can I do?
We understand that some community members are concerned. Remember that according to our state and local health departments, the risk to our community and to the U.S. population as a whole is currently low.
You can help prevent the spread of colds and other viral ailments by doing the following:
- Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and immediately dispose of the tissue.
- Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.
Please call the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 [317-233-1325 after hours] or e-mail [email protected] if you experience symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath and have a recent history of travel to highly affected areas or contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19.
I am a student, should I stay home from class?
If you are sick, you should take steps you normally would when sick, including focusing on caring for your health, contacting your healthcare provider if you feel you need to, not attending class if contagious, and in the event you miss class due to illness, working with your instructor on any necessary arrangements for making up coursework.
If you develop symptoms — such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath — within 14 days of your return from personal or official travel to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak OR have been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19, please take the steps listed below.
If you have NOT returned in the past 14 days from travel to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak OR have NOT been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 but do have fever and respiratory symptoms, please also take the following steps.
First: Call your health provider in advance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other health facility without calling first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic.
The CDC also advises you to:
- Avoid contact with others and do not travel while sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
Monitor your symptoms closely. Remember that the likelihood is low that you have coronavirus. Take your temperature if you believe you have a fever.
Stay home from school and work until at least 24 hours after your fever ends. If you must go out of the house or be around others, wear a mask and avoid close contact. Be especially careful around infants and small children as well as people who have compromised immune systems and/or are over the age of 65. If you returned from China in the last 14 days, and your arrival date was February 2 or later, you will have received instructions from the CDC and from the local or state health department. Please follow these instructions. Guidelines for travelers returning from other countries are available from the CDC.
Take care of yourself. Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids.
Even if you haven’t returned from one of these countries, if you have respiratory illness plus a fever you could have the flu or another virus. Please contact your healthcare provider or nurse advice line before going to a clinic or doctor’s office.
Additional note for anyone arriving recently from China: Based on CDC guidance, if you have arrived in the U.S. on or after Feb. 3, 2020 AND visited mainland China in the previous 14 days, you should stay at home and not attend class until a full 14 days have passed since your last day in mainland China.
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