There are heightened concerns among some Georgia school parents now that COVID-19 has hit the state.
Today, Habersham County School administrators took steps to alleviate some of those concerns by issuing an action plan to deal with the virus in the event it reaches this area. The plan was developed by the school system’s Coronavirus Action Team headed by elementary school director Rhonda Andrews.
The three-page document outlines a three-pronged strategy focusing on prevention, communication, and response.
In determining a response to the global and potential statewide spread of COVID-19, the team decided that anyone who travels outside the U.S is at risk. That’s due to the fact that travelers are in close proximity to one another in airports, on airplanes and cruise ships, and in other public spaces, Andrews explains.
Effective immediately, any Habersham County public school student or staff member who has recently been out of the country or been exposed to someone who has, must now self-monitor at home for a minimum of 14 days before they’re allowed to return to school.
A teacher from South Habersham Middle School is the first to be affected by the new rule.
“We do have a teacher who recently traveled outside the country to an area not considered high risk by the CDC,” Andrews says. That teacher, who has not been named publicly, is now self-monitoring at home.
“We have no reason to believe that the staff member has the coronavirus or that any students are at risk,” Andrews says. She says the school principal directly contacted the parents of the teacher’s students.
Despite heightened concerns, currently, there are no reports of COVID-19 in Habersham or surrounding communities.
“We do not have any students or staff in quarantine. To our knowledge, we do not have any students or staff who have been tested for coronavirus,” Andrews says.
Effectively communicating information about the virus, along with prevention, are crucial parts of the school system’s plan.
Prevention and communication
Under the action plan, schools will implement handwashing breaks throughout the day. They’ll teach students proper handwashing and prevention techniques including covering coughs and sneezes and avoiding personal contact such as handshakes, fist-bumps, and hugs.
Schools will also increase their disinfection routines and closely monitor students for potential signs of infection.
The Habersham County School System will provide a fact sheet about COVID-19 and a copy of its action plan to students, parents, and staff. Administrators will keep parents informed of any developments through the OneCall system and local media, the plan states.
The school system also will use its website to keep the public updated about coronavirus COVID-19. The website can be found at www.habershamschools.com.
The plan also states that the school system will coordinate its virus prevention and response efforts with state and local public health and safety officials. School administrators are scheduled to meet with representatives from the Habersham County Health Department on March 5.
Response
The new protocol could impact spring break for those students and families who were planning to travel abroad. The minimum 14-day restriction on returning to school increases to 21 days for those who visit or are exposed to others who travel to countries designated by the CDC as ‘high-risk.’
New students from high-risk countries who are seeking to enroll in Habersham County Schools must now wait 30 days before starting class. New students who come from other areas outside the U.S. must wait 14 days.
Hall County Schools on Wednesday relaxed its previously announced plan to bar students from class if they’re exposed to foreign travelers.
“Based on guidance from the CDC, students who have family members who have traveled to a country designated level 2 or higher — but have not themselves traveled to that country — may continue to attend school as long as they are not presenting symptoms,” says Hall County Schools spokesperson Stan Lewis.
While some may view Habersham’s action plan as stringent, Andrews defends it
“Ordinary practice in other school systems seems to be to only flag those who have visited high-risk countries as determined by the CDC. However, in Habersham County, we want to be extraordinary when it comes to keeping our students and staff safe.”
Click on the link to read the complete Habersham County Schools Coronavirus Action Plan.
Visit the CDC website for an updated country risk assessment list.
