As the cold and flu season is still upon us, Lovejoy ISD has been working with our staff and students to reinforce the importance of handwashing, proper hygiene, and manually cleaning of surfaces with wipes and disinfectants as a precaution to maintain healthy classrooms.
With the recent news about the coronavirus which originated in Wuhan, China, 2019-nCoV, we have had parent inquiries regarding district procedures.
LISD is providing the information below and a link to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on our website to keep our families informed.
https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
International travel to and from China does not automatically mean the individual has been exposed or that others are at risk. If you traveled to China or outside the country in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, avoid contact with others and call ahead to tell your doctor about your recent travel and symptoms.
We want our parents to know that Lovejoy ISD has trained, registered nurses at each campus with protocols in place to handle communicable illnesses common to school districts like influenza (flu), pertussis (whooping cough), strep throat, head lice and more.
These same protocols would be implemented when monitoring for other public health concerns. For any potential staff or students who are symptomatic, our school nurses have screening procedures to isolate individuals with symptoms, find out about travel and dates of illness, and report regularly to the DSHS.
In addition, the district monitors health clinic visits at each campus on a daily basis to track flu-related absences. We encourage our families to keep children at home when they are sick or experiencing fever. Your child must be free of fever for 24 hours, without Tylenol or Advil, and not throwing-up for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Antibiotics must be taken for 24 hours before returning to school.
Our LISD nursing staff works closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and stays up to date regarding coronavirus and what it means for public schools.
Additionally, the district's custodial staff use electrostatic sprayers with disinfectant to sanitize all surfaces, which can harbor illness-causing germs, especially those germs that can survive on surfaces for extended periods. High touch areas throughout the schools are cleaned completely and frequently as a preventative measure, not just in response to an illness outbreak. Manual cleaning methods may not effectively reach all desired surfaces or hard-to-reach places; however, with electrostatic disinfectant technology, all surfaces, including the sides, underside, and backside of surfaces, are treated. This wraparound coverage helps provide better protection from the spread of germs in our school buildings.
The CDC says everyday preventive actions like those listed below are the best way to avoid the spread of respiratory viruses:
- Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap is not available;
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
- Stay home while you have a fever or experience illness;
Student and staff safety is our top priority. We will continue to monitor the CDC and DSHS for additional information and guidance and will share information with you regarding any updates.