Aurora area school officials said they are monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and working to inform families about ways to stay safe from the disease.
School officials have issued statements to assure students, parents and staff they are staying in touch with Illinois Department of Public Health and county health authorities on the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19, the respiratory virus identified in December in Wuhan, China.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who appeared with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, at a news conference Monday, said the risk to the public remains low.
“The best thing the general public can do at this time is to continue taking the same precautions you take during the flu season, with renewed vigilance,” Pritzker said.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has recommended schools hold classes and events as usual and for school districts to follow routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
More Top Picks Why Comic Sans Is Recommended For Dyslexic Readers
West Aurora School District 129, East Aurora School District 131, Geneva School District 304 and Kaneland School District 302 were among the area’s public school systems that issued statements based on recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Kane County Health Department.
The West Aurora school system issued a second communication Friday, saying “we know that the media coverage of the coronavirus and the dangers of flu season can be scary.”
The communication informed residents of new cleaning measures implemented in school buildings across the district to keep students and staff healthy.
The district added custodial staff to place all buildings on an “every night cleaning schedule.” On last Friday’s countywide school Institute Day, the custodial team carried out a “deep clean of all hard surfaces,” according to the West Aurora statement.
West Aurora also delivered sanitizing wipes to all classrooms.
In a statement to parents, East Aurora School District officials said they are keeping an eye on the coronavirus issue.
“District 131 will continue to closely monitor recommendations regarding coronavirus and will update you as soon as there are any significant changes in recommendations for schools,” according to the statement.
Oswego-based School District 308 issued a media statement Monday informing the public the health and safety of students and staff is always the district’s highest priority
“Our district leaders remain in very close contact with the Kendall County Health Department, and also receive information and recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health,” the statement read.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, and are reviewing current practices, policies and procedures to be certain we are following the guidance set forth by governmental health authorities. Additionally, we are increasing efforts to educate and remind students of proper personal hygiene measures used to reduce the spread of germs and to increase opportunities for hand washing throughout the school day,” according to the statement.
The Illinois Department of Public Health guidance does not call for more frequent cleaning or special sanitizing procedures for schools, does not direct the use of masks or gloves, or the cancellation of classes or events at this time, districts officials said.
Surfaces across schools in the district are cleaned daily, and that practice will continue, District 308 officials said.
“The district does have a pandemic protocol established should the situation elevate to that level,” the statement said.
In a letter to district families and employees, Yorkville School District 115 Superintendent Tim Shimp said “district administrators recently met with representatives from the Kendall County Health Department to learn more about the disease and preventative measures in order to be able to share consistent accurate and timely information.”
He said the district has increased daily cleaning of bus surfaces and wipe-downs of classroom surface areas and has increased access to hand sanitizers in schools.
Kaneland School District 302 issued a statement to families last week that they, too, are monitoring the situation.
The letter recommends the best way to protect against coronavirus is by taking the same everyday precautions against getting sick in general. These include regular hand washing and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Health officials also urge people to cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The districts are reminding families to keep children home if they are showing signs of illness, such as a fever or flu-like symptoms, and take them to a physician when appropriate.
Adults are advised to stay home from work if they are sick as well.
Parents can visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at DPH.ILLINOIS.GOV or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus for information on coronavirus, which is also available in Spanish.
More Top Picks Hammock Stands
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
The baiduhai contributed to this report.