COVID-19, more commonly known as the Coronavirus, has continued to spread overseas and there have been 14 confirmed cases in the United States, as of February 27. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), of those 14 confirmed cases 12 are travel related and 2 are person to person transfer. While the virus has not become widespread in the United States and government agencies are working to prevent or contain any cases identified on U.S. soil, our district continues to monitor the situation. Rock Hill Schools will work closely with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) to stay informed of any developments of confirmed cases in the U.S. and implement any recommendations or guidelines from the CDC or SC DHEC as they are determined.
According to SC DHEC, the chances of being infected are low unless a person traveled to China or had contact with a person under investigation (PUI) or a laboratory-confirmed case of the disease. If a child or staff member is ill and did not travel to China or have known contact with a COVID-19 case, it is highly unlikely that he or she is at risk for COVID-19.
While this virus has not impacted our area, there are great resources available for parents and community members to learn about the virus symptoms, preventative measures and current confirmed cases. Links to these resources can be found below.
As always we encourage everyone to practice proper handwashing, cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing, and children or staff should stay home if they are ill.
SC DHEC Guidance for Schools and Out-of-Home Child Care Centers