If your school is closed re COVID19, what is your role

[jnemartin]

I’ve been thinking about what our role will be if DHS does call for school closure. I was thinking we could create a screening tool that would identify higher-risk families and then call those families with instructions and education. Questions could include recent travel, symptoms, contact with others, etc. Families could fill this out online, so we could go old school and just call every family and administer the survey via phone. I am setting up a Google Voice account, so that I can call families from my cell phone without them having access to my person numbers (as we would be working from home in the case of a school closure).

We will coordinate communications from top down (CDC -> local DHS -> our school)

What else!?

[Mavnurse17, BSN, RN]

I'm in North Texas, where we only have ~3-4 cases in our immediate area and no community spread (yet). We're set to go to Spring break next week but the board had a meeting this morning outlining the preparation they've done in case we need to move to online learning after next week! I'm following this closely because the rate of spread across the US has been sobering. I believe a week ago we had ~450 cases in the US, today it's ~1,500.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

PA: Suburban Philadelphia -Montgomery County is epicenter of coronavirus cases.Governor Wolf issued proclamation to CLOSE all daycare, schools, gyms, gatherings over 250, .non-essential stores x 2 weeks so 2 major malls closed.. Cascading effect Philly to close 63 schools as majority teachers live in Montgomery County.

63 Philly schools to close; district cites Montco coronavirus cases https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/live/coronavirus-covid19-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-confirmed-case-updates-news-20200312.html

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Those parents are going to be in a very hard place. Are we going to devastate people financially in order to try to control the uncontrollable?

[arlingtonnurse]

Today is our last day before a two week liason. At least we were given a day for the teachers to prep. They are sending grades 3-5 home with chromebooks and packets. My kids' school is closed today (announced last night) but they can go to the school until noon to get anything left in lockers.

We did a big gift card drive to give to the families that get food from us. According to the principal it was very successful, they will go home with identified families today.

I am employed by my city's DPH so will be working over there, not sure how yet but I'm *sure* there will be plenty to do.

I told my recently hospitalized mother to dig out her incentive spirometer and start working on building up her lungs because I think most of us can expect to get it sooner or later. Just try to 'flatten the curve' as much as possible along the way.

Good luck to all.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

And my school is closing for 2 weeks, starting Monday.

We are a public charter and usually follow the guidelines of the greater public district, but this time we went rogue. For now.

[Mavnurse17, BSN, RN]

Update: 5 (FIVE!) cases popped up in my county last night. At least 1 of those the result of community spread, not travel. The health department issued a 'disaster declaration.' School districts still open today! I realize it's a big inconvenience to parents to close schools, but I deeply feel it's the most prudent action to containing this before it gets bad (worse). I suspect we'll at least have Spring break extended past next week.

[BettyGirard, BSN]

The governor just ordered the schools shut yesterday. We're closing down after today until the end of the month. Since my contract is predicated on the students being in the building, I'll be home as well (because if they don't "forgive" the missed days, I'll be back on the makeup days).

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

2 hours ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

And my school is closing for 2 weeks, starting Monday.

We are a public charter and usually follow the guidelines of the greater public district, but this time we went rogue. For now.

You knew that was coming...

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

6 minutes ago, NutmeggeRN said:

You knew that was coming...

Actually I didn't. We were sent a different email late last night that was the opposite and then my executive director realized we don't have to follow the greater public district, so very different email went out very early this AM.

I'm packing feminine supply goody bags to be picked up with food during the next two weeks because families that need food and have lady partss, often also need these supplies.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

10 minutes ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

Actually I didn't. We were sent a different email late last night that was the opposite and then my executive director realized we don't have to follow the greater public district, so very different email went out very early this AM.

I'm packing feminine supply goody bags to be picked up with food during the next two weeks because families that need food and have lady partss, often also need these supplies.

ooooh that is a great idea on the feminine supplies....

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

we close until the 27 starting Tuesday. Staff is still expected to come in to tie up loose ends on Tuesday. Then they will reevaluate before we come back to determine the plan. Me thinks that in 2 weeks we'll be at peak frenzy.

[mainecoonRN92, BSN, RN]

Yup. Just was announced our whole region will be closed for at least the next two weeks. There is school today and parents were encouraged to have students attend today to get any materials for the two week break but our absenteeism rates are atrocious.

Next week, students and staff are to work from home. What I am going to be doing, I have no clue.

The week after is our normally scheduled Spring break. We shall see what follows but it is just sheer mass panic in my community. It's really hard to watch what this is turning into.

The funny thing is, at no point in the parent email about the school closure does it mention social distancing. I'm certain that at least half of our student populations will be filling up local daycares and community centers due to single/working parents. So much for controlling the spread, eh?