McHenry Times

Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 recently issued the following announcement.

Earlier this week the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement about the potential spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. While the risk remains low for Coronavirus in McHenry County and there are no known cases reported to date, it continues to be a fluid situation and District 47 administration and school health officials are monitoring the situation closely. We are in communication with the McHenry County Health Department, the Regional Office of Education, and other local and regional agencies working to ensure public health and safety. We will follow the direction of the McHenry County Health Department and other health agencies like the Illinois Department of Health and the CDC should Coronavirus develop in our area.  

 Below is an overview of the district’s current practices and protocols, Coronavirus signs and symptoms, tips for prevention, and resources for more information. 

 Practices and protocols

Monitoring attendance: Each school’s health office monitors illness among students and staff and reports weekly illness rates to the McHenry County Health Department. Based on numbers, the district in collaboration with the health department, determines if there is a large enough concern to warrant additional action, such as intensive deep cleaning or, in extreme cases (such as an epidemic), closing a school.

Disinfecting/cleaning: The district takes precautions to ensure schools are properly disinfected and deep-cleaned on a weekly basis. During peak flu season, there is a special emphasis on cleaning “high-touch” surfaces, such as desks, door handles, faucets, railings, etc. In addition, the district uses an industrial electrostatic sprayer that disinfects hard-to-reach areas.

 Symptoms

According to the McHenry County Health Department’s website, the Coronavirus usually causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses like the common cold. Symptoms may also include:

• fever (may not always be present) 
• cough
• shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing

Prevention

The McHenry County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the CDC advise the following measures to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus and other illnesses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If no soap and water are available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are ill. 

 District 47 will continue to follow our policies and procedures to ensure preparedness in the event of a Coronavirus outbreak. The Illinois Department of Public Health does NOT recommend the use of masks or gloves, cancelling mass gatherings, or cancelling classes at this time. We would like to remind parents that students should be 24 hours fever free WITHOUT fever-reducing medication and/or have not vomited or experienced diarrhea within 24 hours before returning to school. Note: A fever is considered to be 100.4 degrees or higher according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As always, it is advisable that parents give advanced thought to childcare plans and/or alternate work plans should their child need to stay home from school due to illness or school closures. 

 Resources

We encourage parents and the community to visit the McHenry County Health Department and/or CDC websites to stay updated on the latest information and guidance regarding the Coronavirus.

 

• McHenry County Health Department
• CDC Coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control – Fact Sheet (English)
• Centers for Disease Control – Fact Sheet (Spanish)

Original source can be found here.