Spring Break is almost here for our students and staff members across the state. We sincerely hope everyone in our Harmony community has a fun and relaxing break before together we begin the final stretch toward the end of the school year.
We understand that many of you will be traveling this spring break. With concerns about the Coronavirus in the minds of many, we want to share a few tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about staying healthy when traveling, as well as provide more info about a few Harmony policies related to returning to school after visiting certain risk-prone destinations.
Tips for Healthy Travel
In general, the same advice for fighting germs and bacteria applies when traveling as it does when staying home:
- Wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer;
- Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth;
- Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- When greeting others, consider an alternative to hugs or handshakes, such as an elbow bump.
Additionally, here are a few additional tips related specifically to those traveling:
- Be aware of your surroundings (including people who are sick) and try to distance yourself as appropriate;
- Avoid areas that you feel might make your more likely to be exposed;
- Know how to get reliable local information about any possible changes to the situation;
- Avoid public transportation, if possible. Confined spaces such as buses, trains, subways, and airplanes may put you at a higher risk of infection;
- When eating animal-based products, make sure they are thoroughly cooked before eating.
Returning to School After Visiting Risk-Prone Areas
Due to CDC travel guidelines, students and families that have traveled to locations that are marked as a Coronavirus risk by the CDC must have a letter of clearance from their medical provider before returning to campus. Failure to provide a clearance letter will result in the student being dismissed home. Students will have 48 hours to provide proof of doctor’s clearance. Any additional absence will require further documentation from the parents or doctor. For a list of countries with COVID-19 travel advisories, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
Currently these countries include:
- China
- Hong Kong
- Iran
- Italy
- Japan
- South Korea
Additionally, please be aware that families travelling to China’s Hubei province or mainland China may face a mandatory quarantine and be monitored by public health officials. Any health department guidelines should be followed by any affected families and absences will be waived upon return to school with provision of proof of quarantine.
At Harmony Public Schools, we take the health and safety of our students and staff members seriously. Harmony is closely tracking all new developments regarding the Coronavirus and will continue to share timely, relevant updates, as needed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please refer to your campus health staff.
We appreciate your help in supporting healthy and happy learning environments for our Harmony community.