Coronavirus and Schools

[KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN]

Looking for opinions here!

I personally (and professionally, I suppose) have taken a very relaxed approach to the current situation. That's not to say that I haven't been reading a few articles about it here and there, but, I also haven't felt the need to shut my family and myself away in our house to avoid contact with the general public either.

I bring this up today because yesterday I not only had a teacher approach me asking me what our plan was should we need to close but the school district my charter is in also posted something to their facebook page stating they had a procedure ready to go should it come to that. It just struck me as odd that, up until yesterday afternoon, concern for this virus had not been introduced to my immediate world.

I'm curious to know:

1)what your personal thoughts are on this virus and

2) if your school has implemented any kind of potential procedure/policy should it come to an immediate concern for communities in the US.

[SaltineQueen]

1. I'm still more worried about influenza at this point. It's hit our area HARD! I've seen articles in the last day that say we need to prepare in the US for it to be a bigger deal, but I'm not worried yet. I just keep telling everyone the same standard - wash your hands, cover your coughs & sneezes, and don't touch your face - like I would anything else.

2. We don't have a plan that I know of. We'll follow the lead of our county health department.

[Mavnurse17, BSN, RN]

I've been casually following the articles over the recent months but yesterday I saw that the CDC issued a statement that rapid spread is imminent in the US. I'm intrigued by it all. There haven't been any cases in my state (yet). My district hasn't paid any attention to it.

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

No plan here yet. I am waiting to hear back from our lead nurse because I have had concerned employees ask me "if I have enough masks for everyone." Ummm, no I do not have 1100 masks to supply daily to students and staff. ??

[SchoolNurse91, BSN, RN]

No plan in my district. We have gotten an e-mail from the HD, but it was just standard stuff. I wonder how this will play out.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

1. I was more worried about influenza, but these statement from CDC yesterday shocked me. I really don't know what to think now. The CDC says to keep 3 ft distance from anyone with illness symptoms. I guess I need a yard stick to poke away the kids who get too close to me while explaining their symptoms.

2. No policies yet. We had 2 coronavirus cases in IL which were quarantined, treated, and released a couple week ago. We've followed IDPH and CDC guidelines. I'm now getting panicked parents, so I'm hoping my school creates a statement soon.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

Full Disclosure- I am a fan of apocalyptic fiction, and have read a lot of novels/series' based on deadly pandemics. I also enjoy studying the history of past pandemics, such at the black plague, small pox, and Spanish flu. So when I heard a report in late December of a small endemic in China of a novel coronavirus, I joked to myself, 'This is how it starts,' and promptly forgot about it until a few weeks later, China was shutting down areas to control the spread.

So I've been following this closely. The response around the world is unprecedented, and for us, at the moment, containment has been effective. I don't expect we will be shutting down entire school districts or that we will have a massive issue here compared to other countries.

I do however, think it's extremely important that everyone be prepared for the worst case scenario as a family. And as community school nurses, we need to be prepared to help our schools and families.

[Nursesusu]

4 minutes ago, lifelearningrn said:

Full Disclosure- I am a fan of apocalyptic fiction, and have read a lot of novels/series' based on deadly pandemics. I also enjoy studying the history of past pandemics, such at the black plague, small pox, and Spanish flu. So when I heard a report in late December of a small endemic in China of a novel coronavirus, I joked to myself, 'This is how it starts,' and promptly forgot about it until a few weeks later, China was shutting down areas to control the spread.

So I've been following this closely. The response around the world is unprecedented, and for us, at the moment, containment has been effective. I don't expect we will be shutting down entire school districts or that we will have a massive issue here compared to other countries.

I do however, think it's extremely important that everyone be prepared for the worst case scenario as a family. And as community school nurses, we need to be prepared to help our schools and families.

You are my spirit animal. I've also been closely following this virus online since late December. I check the updates daily and have been fascinated by the whole scenario. I watched a Netflix documentary around the time this thing began, I think it was called "Pandemic" and it is very, very interesting. As far as our district, we're following the Health Dept. No parents or teachers have expressed any concern, at least not yet...

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

There are 14 cases in the US, Influenza is much more a concern. Keep calm and nurse on.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

6 minutes ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

There are 14 cases in the US, Influenza is much more a concern. Keep calm and nurse on.

I agree. I have an old friend on FB who is freaking out that they should shut down schools etc due to Caronavirus. I reminded her that no cases in that area, so no imminent reason to do so. She said this when her granddaughter had the flu. One of 8 kids in a 500+ school, and saying they should shut down. For what? Keep sick kids at home and treat appropriately. Same with adults

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

We shut down last Friday, 25% out with ILI. Absences much better now. Helps our 7th and 8th grade are in San Diego this week. The media does this garbage, makes a mountain out of an ant hill.

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

17 minutes ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

There are 14 cases in the US, Influenza is much more a concern. Keep calm and nurse on.

Don't forget to add the 42 cases who have been repatriated to the US.

1 minute ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

We shut down last Friday, 25% out with ILI. Absences much better now. Helps our 7th and 8th grade are in San Diego this week. The media does this garbage, makes a mountain out of an ant hill.

WOW!!, that is a crazy amount!