UPDATE: Fayette School System announces comprehensive coronavirus policies 

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Coronavirus 2019-nCov novel coronavirus concept resposible for asian flu outbreak and coronaviruses influenza as dangerous flu strain cases as a pandemic. Microscope virus close up. 3d rendering. Photo/Shutterstock.
Coronavirus 2019-nCov novel coronavirus concept resposible for asian flu outbreak and coronaviruses influenza as dangerous flu strain cases as a pandemic. Microscope virus close up. 3d rendering. Photo/Shutterstock.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m. March 10 — Fayette School System announces comprehensive coronavirus policies


IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGE TO THE FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY

March 10, 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

NOTE: The term COVID-19 will be used throughout this document in reference to the coronavirus. 

Metro area hospitals and designated facilities, including our local hospital, have been set up to address COVID-19. We have confirmed with the Fayette County Health Department that there is one presumptive case of COVID-19 in Fayette County. At this time, we can confirm that these cases are not Fayette County employees or students. We are told that the risk to the general population remains low.

It is likely there will be other “presumptive positive” and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Fayette County residents, and we do not plan to send you a notice about every case.  These cases will be reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health on their website.

Students with health conditions that require them to wear face masks (respirators) are the only ones being allowed to wear them at school, and these students must have a note from their healthcare provider on file at the school. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC ) does not recommend the routine use of respirators (face masks) in the community.

Parents and guardians should verify that their phone numbers and email addresses are correct in Infinite Campus and ensure that notification permissions are set to receive messages.

The superintendent and school system leadership are in constant contact with public health, state of Georgia, and Federal officials, and continue to follow their guidance on developments related to COVID-19.

Should there be a household connection to Fayette County Public Schools and/or a COVID-19 diagnosis among our students and/or staff, you will be notified immediately. The Department of Public Health is not recommending any Fayette  County Public School closures at this time.

There are preventative measures you can take against COVID-19, which are the same as for the flu:

  • Wash hands frequently
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home if you are sick
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use tissue to cover it, then throw tissue in the trash

To prioritize the safety of our students and staff, we remain committed to following the most current recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

Student Attendance Incentives:

Students who provide written documentation from their healthcare provider advising them to refrain from attending school due to COVID-19 will be fully accommodated in accordance with Board Policy JB. Families of these students should coordinate with their school’s administration for additional guidance. For all other students, normal school attendance policies remain in effect.

Student attendance incentives for all schools are suspended for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year with the following exceptions:

  • High school exam exemptions for attendance will be based on first semester attendance.

  • Perfect attendance calculations will be addressed at a later time.

Employee Attendance

Employees not reporting to work due to coronavirus must provide written documentation from their healthcare provider. The school system will continue to enforce Board Policy GARH. Normal work attendance policies remain in effect.

Enrollment of New Students from Identified High-Risk Areas:

Families attempting to enroll a student from areas with a Level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice advisory for COVID-19, as identified by the CDC and/or the US Department of State, should contact the Enrollment Center via telephone and/or email.

Facility Maintenance and Cleanliness:

The school system continues to implement all best practices and materials at our disposal to keep each facility clean and disinfected.

Re-entry of Students Traveling from Identified High-Risk Areas:

Families should inform the local school via telephone and/or email if their student or a member of their household has traveled to areas with a Level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice advisory for the coronavirus, as identified by the CDC or the US Department of State. Schools, in conjunction with school system personnel and Georgia Department of Public Health protocols, will work with families to determine the appropriate action regarding the re-entry of the student into school.

Staff Travel Restrictions:

Out-of-state, work-related travel for all employees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.

Regarding personal travel, employees should inform their supervisor via telephone and/or email, prior to returning to work, if they have traveled to areas with a Level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice advisory for COVID-19, as identified by the CDC or the U.S. Department of State.

Student Travel:

Any school-sponsored and/or school system-sponsored travel to areas with a Level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice advisory for COVID-19, as identified by the CDC or the US Department of State, will be canceled for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year. Currently, travel scheduled within the US, or for areas not identified as high risk, will be evaluated by the school system. We will communicate with all travel companies utilized by the school system to ensure they follow the same CDC and/or Georgia Department of Public Health recommendations.

The Georgia Department of Public Health will continue updating the community through their website, and the CDC is constantly updating their website with the most current information.

Virtual Learning Options:

In order to prepare for emergency related school closings, Fayette County Public Schools is prepared to offer virtual learning days for our students, supported by our employees. Non-digital, ‘unplugged’ assignments are recommended for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students, as well as those with limited internet access.

All personnel should be available and accessible during their regularly scheduled work hours.

Facility Rentals:

School system facility rental agreements will continue to be honored at this time; however, lessees will be required to hire Fayette County Public School System custodial staff to ensure system protocols for sanitation and disinfection are followed to the level directed by the CDC. Additional costs associated with these procedures will be the responsibility of the lessee.

School and District Sponsored Events:

Currently scheduled events occurring in closed spaces, or events with 1,000 or more participants, will be reviewed by the school system. All other events will be allowed to proceed as planned. Until further notice, new school and system sponsored events occurring in closed spaces, or events with 1,000 or more participants, will be reviewed for approval on a case-by-case basis. The school system supports the event sponsor and school administrators’ authority to postpone or cancel events. The school system will continue to update information on its website. Please visit this webpage frequently for up-to-date information.

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TUESDAY 10 a.m. CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: NO teachers or students involved, Fayette County School System says

UPDATED TUESDAY, MARCH 10 — No teachers or students are among the presumed or confirmed new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a March 10 update from the Fayette County School System.

The system posted information Tuesday morning “that there are presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fayette County. At this time, we can confirm that these cases are not Fayette County employees or students.”

Here’s that post:

IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGE TO THE FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY

COVID-19 Update and Information

March 10, 2020

Metro area hospitals and designated facilities, including our local hospital, have been set up to address the COVID-19 virus. We have confirmed with the Fayette County Health Department that there are presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fayette County. At this time, we can confirm that these cases are not Fayette County employees or students. We are told that the risk to the general population remains very low. This situation is very fluid; we are continuing to remain in contact with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Fayette County Health Department for information and guidance. Please check our website and social media channels for updates.

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Coronavirus Update – March 9, 2020


IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGE TO THE FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY

COVID-19 Update and Information

March 9, 2020

Dear Fayette County Public School Parents and Community,

In Georgia there are now six presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 pending confirmatory testing by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and five confirmed cases. There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Fayette County. The risk of COVID-19 to the general public remains low.

Here is some information that is important to note:

• Food preparation in classrooms is to be completed and served using gloves.

• Students with health conditions that require them to wear faces masks (respirators) are the only ones being allowed to wear them at school, and these students must have a note from their healthcare provider on file at the school. The CDC does not recommend the routine use of respirators (face masks) in the community.

• We are continuing to follow our regular health protocol of disinfecting surfaces such as desks, handles, door knobs, computer keyboards, and other highly touched areas. We use Peroxide Multi Surface Cleaner Disinfectant, which is on the list of approved chemicals from the Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC).

• Our coordinator of school health and school nurses continue to receive updates and guidance on signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Our school system is working closely with the Fayette County Department of Public Health, and we are monitoring information that is being released from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Although there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in our county, there are preventative measures you can take, which are the same as for the flu. Our schools emphasize these to students and staff on a regular basis. They include:

• Washing hands frequently

• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

• Staying home if you are sick and running a fever

• Coughing or sneezing into your elbow or use tissue to cover it, then throw tissue in the trash

We will make updates to our website and social media channels if any significant information becomes available, and you will be notified of contingency plans if an outbreak should occur.

For more information on coronavirus, click here. — Provided by the Fayette County School System

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