From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin released information on how the school system is dealing with the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“I wanted to reach out to you directly to share what we know and what we are doing as a district,” Gonsoulin said in the letter. “While there have been no cases of coronavirus in Alabama, we are continuing to monitor the situation.”
The school system is following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Education.
The nursing staff at Jefferson County Schools are meeting this week with health officials and the CDC, according to the letter.
“According to the information currently available, coronavirus symptoms and transmission are similar to the flu,” Gonsoulin said. “We remain diligent in our efforts to minimize illness in our schools.”
The school system said it would continue to encourage/teach good handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette, remind parents of the “24-hour fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications” practice as advised by both the CDC and ADPH, and encourage everyone to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
“We cannot emphasize enough that if a student has or has had a fever, the student should remain home for 24 hours fever-free (without fever-reducing medications) before returning to school,” the letter stated.
Dr. Gonsoulin said he would continue to share information as it becomes available.