FCPS sets up coronavirus response team
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| FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand and school board chair Karen Corbett-Sanders speak in a video about their plans for dealing with coronavirus. |
Fairfax County Public Schools
officials are taking steps to address coronavirus (COVID-19) by setting up a crisis response team, considering instructional
options and other issues in case schools are closed, stepping up cleaning procedures for schools and buses, and issuing a travel history questionnaire.
There are four coronavirus cases in Virginia so far, and more than 500 across the nation. Public health officials, however, say the risk to the general public
remains low.
remains low.
FCPS has created a coronavirus webpage with fact sheets, a video message from Superintendent Scott Brabrand and school board chair Karen
Corbett-Sanders, links to information from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and other resources.
In a March 9 letter to FCPS
families and staff, Brabrand says FCPS “has developed
a COVID response team led by the district’s chief operating officer to
formulate an overall crisis response strategy for schools and departments.”
families and staff, Brabrand says FCPS “has developed
a COVID response team led by the district’s chief operating officer to
formulate an overall crisis response strategy for schools and departments.”
The
team is meeting regularly to review updates from the Fairfax County Health Department, develop communication protocols, and implement the FCPS Pandemic
Influenza Response Plan.
team is meeting regularly to review updates from the Fairfax County Health Department, develop communication protocols, and implement the FCPS Pandemic
Influenza Response Plan.
“The
plan addresses the specific activities necessary to keep schools open and
operating while providing a clean and safe environment during an outbreak and
the essential functions that must be performed by FCPS, if schools are closed,”
Brabrand states.
The plan describes two scenarios:
Under Planning Scenario 1, “a large percentage of the division’s
schools are in session but a single school or a small group of schools may have
dismissed students from classes to limit/restrict social contact and slow the
transmission of the influenza virus.”
schools are in session but a single school or a small group of schools may have
dismissed students from classes to limit/restrict social contact and slow the
transmission of the influenza virus.”
In
this case, “the superintendent may authorize the dismissal of students from
class based on recommendations from the local health department director.”
Instructional and administrative support services could be limited because of high
absenteeism or the redeployment of staff.
this case, “the superintendent may authorize the dismissal of students from
class based on recommendations from the local health department director.”
Instructional and administrative support services could be limited because of high
absenteeism or the redeployment of staff.
Under Planning Scenario 2, all schools are closed. Students have been dismissed
from school either by order of the state health commissioner to limit social
contact and slow the transmission of the virus or by order of the superintendent
or the school board due to falling class attendance or rising staff
absenteeism. FCPS facilities could remain open to faculty and staff to support
the continuity of learning.
Brabrand says there are snow days built into the FCPS school calendar
that could be used if schools need to be closed.
“As families make plans for spring break, we strongly encourage
you to keep travel issues and potential challenges in mind,” Brabrand tells parents.
you to keep travel issues and potential challenges in mind,” Brabrand tells parents.
FCPS
implemented a travel history questionnaire March 9. In accordance with CDC
guidance, students who have traveled to the countries most affected by
coronavirus – China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy – will not be able to return
to school for 14 days after returning to the United States. For students who
have been advised to self-quarantine, schools have been directed to follow
existing procedures to provide instructional materials to students during
short-term absences.
implemented a travel history questionnaire March 9. In accordance with CDC
guidance, students who have traveled to the countries most affected by
coronavirus – China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy – will not be able to return
to school for 14 days after returning to the United States. For students who
have been advised to self-quarantine, schools have been directed to follow
existing procedures to provide instructional materials to students during
short-term absences.
All
FCPS-sponsored international field trips and short-term international
visitations have been suspended through June 30.
FCPS-sponsored international field trips and short-term international
visitations have been suspended through June 30.
Currently, there are no travel restrictions for locations within
the U.S., the letter states, although that could change as a result of CDC and
Health Department recommendations.
the U.S., the letter states, although that could change as a result of CDC and
Health Department recommendations.
FCPS
has a team working on a tiered plan to address instruction if there are school
closures. “We recognize that some of our families lack access to computers and
internet access at home and we will make available through local schools loaner
laptops and mobile hotspot devices (MiFi), if needed,” the letter states.
has a team working on a tiered plan to address instruction if there are school
closures. “We recognize that some of our families lack access to computers and
internet access at home and we will make available through local schools loaner
laptops and mobile hotspot devices (MiFi), if needed,” the letter states.
FCPS is considering scheduling a teacher training day/student
holiday in the near future to provide distance learning training to all
instructional personnel.
holiday in the near future to provide distance learning training to all
instructional personnel.
The Health Department is conducting investigations to identify people
who had been in contact with the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. Any
parents or staff who had been exposed to the illness should notify school
staff.
who had been in contact with the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. Any
parents or staff who had been exposed to the illness should notify school
staff.
Brabrand
recognizes the importance of free and reduced-price meals to students and
families, and says the planning scenarios address how those programs could be
maintained if schools are closed.
recognizes the importance of free and reduced-price meals to students and
families, and says the planning scenarios address how those programs could be
maintained if schools are closed.
“Our
existing school cleaning protocols utilize hospital-grade cleaning products
that can kill the COVID-19 virus and we have a six-month supply of these products
available today,” he adds.
existing school cleaning protocols utilize hospital-grade cleaning products
that can kill the COVID-19 virus and we have a six-month supply of these products
available today,” he adds.
“We recognize that uncertainty creates anxiety,” Brabrand says. “We
want to remind our community that coronavirus doesn’t recognize race,
nationality, or ethnicity. Having Asian ancestry – or any other ancestry – does
not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. We can fight stigma and
support others by sharing accurate information and staying informed through
reputable, trusted sources.”
want to remind our community that coronavirus doesn’t recognize race,
nationality, or ethnicity. Having Asian ancestry – or any other ancestry – does
not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. We can fight stigma and
support others by sharing accurate information and staying informed through
reputable, trusted sources.”
6 responses to “FCPS sets up coronavirus response team”
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No doubt about it, we should take the novel corona virus seriously. However, the 2019-2020 seasonal flu has caused 34 MILLION illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths (source: cdc.gov). 20,000!! Why no panicky response to seasonal flu?
Glad you asked.
1. There is a safe and effective vaccine against influenza. Most of the people who are hospitalized or killed by influenza are not vaccinated. So that all could be prevented by a vaccine. There is no vaccine for coronavirus.
2. This should not have happened. As we humans continue to go into the habitats of wild animals, these kinds of diseases are going to be more common. This is a good dress rehearsal for the next time, when the case-fatality ratio could be much, much worse.
3. The response is not "panicky" at all but very reasonable. It's people being misinformed who are panicking.
4. With the current case fatality ratio, 34 million illnesses could translate to 680,000 deaths. That's just if it behaves like influenza. It's made its way around the world in two months, so it's a little more infectious than influenza.
Except that last fall when Dr. Fauci announced that the vaccine was about 50% effective, there was a collective chortle in the mainstream media….
The mortality rate for corona virus is really not much higher than for seasonal flu; we just don't know the right denominator yet.
The mortality rate for coronavirus is MUCH greater than seasonal flu, you cannot look at the relatively small infection rate/ deaths in the US as indicative of what it would be should it have the same number of cases as seasonal flu.
What numbers can you provide to support this statement? Not agreeing or disagreeing, just would like to see the source.
Google it bro