Feds Urge Schools To Prepare for COVID-19 Outbreak

Feb 28, 2020, 2:29 PM

(from EdWeek and Inside Higher Ed) Schools need to prepare for a nationwide surge in cases of the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, federal officials warned Tuesday. Parents should ask schools for plans regarding dismissal, closure and tele-schooling, they also advised. CDC officials believe an outbreak will occur in the United States and are now mulling when exactly when it will happen and how many will be impacted. K-12 schools in the U.S. are sending home letters to parents urging frequent hand-washing and keeping sick children home from school until they’re fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

On Saturday, February 29, the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for Italy and South Korea, to reconsider travel. Most schools have canceled trips to China as well as Chinese exchange programs. Some universities have cancelled trips to Italy and South Korea due to COVID-19 outbreaks in those countries and are evacuating students who are there currently. Other universities have moved programs from northern Italy, where the outbreak has occurred, to southern Italy, or limited activities.