Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals and humans. Human coronaviruses commonly circulate in the United States and usually cause mild illnesses like the common cold. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease that was identified in Wuhan, China and is now spreading throughout the world. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization. A small percentage of individuals have severe illness and some result in death. Respiratory symptoms alone are not an indicator for COVID-19. Common symptoms include: cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Early information indicates that older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are at higher risk of severe symptoms and death.
We are in frequent communication with public health officials. They often advise us on precautions to take when infectious diseases move through the community. Currently, there are several confirmed cases in North Carolina. We have joined a taskforce with emergency management and public health to discuss practices and procedures locally, should COVID-19 enter Haywood County.
Thus far, the most common questions for our school have been:
- Will school field trips be cancelled due to COVID-19?
a. Parents always have the authority and responsibility to determine if their children travel.
b. After conferring with public health officials, we believe it is appropriately cautious to postpone or cancel field trips and other school sponsored trips to locations that have been declared “a state of emergency” by local administrative authorities like the governor, mayor, or other authorized official. Currently, we are aware of “state of emergency” declarations in several states.
c. This is likely to be an evolving situation. - Will schools close because of COVID-19?
a. At this time, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says students do not need to be kept out of school due to concerns about COVID-19. The Division of Public Health is closely monitoring the situation and will work with school systems across the state to protect the health and well-being of students. As with travel, we are closely monitoring the situation with our public health and emergency management partners. If the situation changes, we will inform students, staff, and parents.
b. If one or more schools close, we will make every reasonable effort to provide educational support for students. The type of support will be based upon available resources as well as the nature and duration of any closings. - Will students or staff members who travel out of the country be quarantined?
a. Haywood County Schools does not authorize or sponsor field trips outside the continental United States.
b. If students or staff members choose to travel abroad, the decision to quarantine will be made by appropriate state or federal officials who monitor travel at airports, seaports, and other locations.
At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Haywood County or Western North Carolina. As we continue to monitor this situation and wait for additional guidance, it is good to remember that universal precautions for many communicable illnesses apply to COVID-19:
- Stay home when sick
- Frequently wash your hands
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cover your cough or sneeze with tissue and throw the tissue in the trash
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant.
- If diagnosed with COVID-19, follow medical professional directions for treatment and quarantine procedures
This link (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina) provides the latest state updates on COVID-19. It contains a wealth of information for people interested in COVID-19. You can also call 866-462-3821 for additional information.
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent