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Information on Coronavirus

Dear HCS Community,

Because the health and safety of students is always our first priority, I wanted to take a minute to pass along information from the Department of Health related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus:

  • A new coronavirus called 2019 Novel (new) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first found in China. This virus had not been found in humans before. This coronavirus may lead to fever, cough and trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
  • Since this virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working hard to learn as much as possible about this new virus, so that we can better understand how it spreads and causes illness.
  • There are currently no vaccines available to protect against this virus. Information to date suggests that 2019-nCoV causes mild-to-moderate illness and symptoms like the flu, including fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
  • The New York State Department of Health (DOH) recommends the following ways to minimize the spread of all respiratory viruses, including 2019-nCoV:
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • While sick, limit contact with other people as much as possible.
    • Stay home when you are sick.
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
    • Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surface.
    • Voluntary home isolation when students are sent home ill. Students should remain at home when ill, except to obtain medical care or necesseties.

Additionally, Guidance from the Department of Health specific to school travel includes the following:

  1. Suspend school sponsored travel programs for all students and staff in currently impacted countries and surrounding regions (China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea)
  2. Develop plans to suspend travel programs in all other countries, regardless of whether they are currently impacted by CDC travel alerts
  3. Students and faculty returning from currently impacted countries or regions of impacted countries will be required to be quarantined for 14 days upon return. – Includes school sponsored travel or individual travel (Spring break).

As stated above, student safety and wellness, both in-district and off campus, are of utmost priority at Honeoye Central School District.  It is this guiding value and commitment to your children, paired with the guidance from NYSED and the Department of Health that will inform all of our decisions at Honeoye Central School District specific to coronavirus and / or other health and wellness concerns.

For additional information, I would invite you to review the materials linked below from NYS Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control. You may also reach out to our school nurse, Marybeth Tonkery ([email protected]) if you have any questions about this information.

  1. CDC’s dedicated 2019-nCoV website at https://www.cdc.gov/nCoV.
  2. NYSDOH’s dedicated 2019-nCoV website at https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
  3. NYSDOH directory of local health departments https://www.health.ny.gov/contact/contact_information/
  4. New York State Center for School Health website at www.schoolhealthny.com

Warmest Regards,

Bridget Ashton, Superintendent