February 28, 2020
Good afternoon Roseville Area Schools families and staff,
We understand you may have questions and concerns about the international coronavirus outbreak, and COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. To date, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports that there are no confirmed cases in the state of Minnesota, and the risk of COVID-19 for Minnesotans is low at this time.
While this information is reassuring, we understand that new viruses like this can be worrisome. Additionally, the recent announcement from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encouraging communities to prepare for the spread of COVID-19 domestically has raised new questions.
Roseville Area Schools is in regular communication with MDH and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) about the situation. The school district will continue to collaborate with these agencies to support the health and safety of our students, staff and community, and to minimize any impact to learning in our schools. In the event of an outbreak in our community, we would follow our public health partners’ lead on any necessary health measures. As always, our focus is to ensure the safety of all students and staff, and continue education with minimal disruption.
Again, our local and state health partners currently report that the risk of COVID-19 to our community is low at this time. Regardless, during this time of year, there are many causes of respiratory illness and it’s an important reminder to practice good hygiene habits to stay healthy and avoid the spread of illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Anyone planning to travel internationally should review travel recommendations posted on CDC's Travel Health Notices, and keep an eye on the news for updates on this evolving situation.
We appreciate your partnership in supporting the health and safety of our school community. If you have further questions, please email communications@isd623.org.
