Coronavirus Guidance for Child Care from CDC via Early Head Start
Dear Parents,
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Louisiana Office of Public Health continue to closely monitor the outbreak of a 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) that originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019.
As of Wednesday, March 4, the CDC has confirmed 80 COVID-19 cases, and there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana.
We want to remind parents that THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC. There have been no reports of children being diagnosed with coronavirus as of 3/4/2020. This notice is to inform parents of the virus and preventive measures the CDC is recommending for early child care centers.
Recommendations:
Wash hands frequently and thoroughly (20 seconds/ 2 happy birthday songs for adults and children)
If a student has a temperature of 100 or more taken under the arm he or she needs to stay or be sent home.
Daily sanitation of classroom and common use surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, and countertops).
More recommendations and prevention from the CDC can be found here. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-for-schools.html
Prevention:
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Basic Coronavirus Facts
You can only be diagnosed with COVID-19 by the CDC. There is no test that any localized facility can perform to determine a COVID-19 diagnosis. COVID-19 is just one form of coronavirus.
How COVID-19 Spreads: COVID-19 is a new disease and the CDC is still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Travel:
The CDC has issued travel warnings for several countries with widespread COVID-19 transmission:
China
Iran
Italy
Japan
South Korea
The list of destinations with travel warnings is updated regularly and can be found here. As part of the United States’ COVID-19 containment strategy, the CDC recommends canceling or postponing nonessential travel to these destinations due to potential health risks. These destinations are subject to change at any time due to the unpredictable nature of this virus.
Questions:
Louisiana Office of Public Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hotline: 1-800-256-2748
Detailed information about the coronavirus from the CDC can be found here, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf