The District Safety Team would like to remind everyone of the importance of following the mitigation strategies outlined below to help keep you and your family healthy and safe during the winter months when we typically see an increase in viral respiratory illnesses like Influenza and COVID-19.
Effective mitigation strategies include:
Vaccination, which is the single most effective way to protect you and your loved ones from respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and Influenza.
Pharmacies in the Hartford area are widely stocked with vaccines for Influenza and COVID-19. For more info on vaccines and to find a vaccine provider near you, click here to visit the State of CT’s COVID-19 Vaccine Portal;
To access your COVID-19 vaccination history, click here to access CT WIZ , the state immunization database.
Frequent hand-washing with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds).
Practicing proper cough and sneeze etiquette of sneezing or coughing into your elbow to avoid spreading germs.
Keeping children home from school if they are feeling ill. Click here or see the flyer below for guidelines on when to keep your child home from school and when your child can safely return to school.
Staying home and testing for COVID-19 if you are experiencing any key COVID-19 symptoms, including:
Fever (≥ 100°F) or feeling feverish;
Persistent cough;
Persistent sore throat;
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
Loss of taste and/or smell;
Vomiting or diarrhea;
Contacting your primary care provider if you or your child tests positive and following your doctor’s guidance;
Isolating for 5 full days after testing positive for COVID-19 and limiting contact with other people. Students can return to school if symptoms have improved on day 6 after testing positive but are required to wear a mask on days 6-10. If you need support determining your child’s return date to school, please contact your child’s school nurse.
COVID-19 test kits for all of our schools were recently ordered and will continue to be replenished through a U.S. Department of Education initiative that distributes test kits to schools. Nurses will continue to have the ability to test your child for COVID-19, with parental consent, if he or she becomes ill during the school day.