From the Office of the Head of School March 2, 2020 Dear Mead School Families,
This email is a follow-up to my communication of January 29th regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Mead School has since received outreach from the National Association of Independent Schools and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, as well as the City of Stamford.
Last Friday, February 28, the Stamford Health Department hosted a meeting to share information with local schools and religious institutions regarding the monitoring and preparedness for COVID-19. Mead School Administrators participated in this meeting, and we would like to provide you with information that was shared by Dr. Jennifer Calder, City of Stamford Health Director, and Dr. Henry Yoon, City of Stamford Medical Advisor. Due to the dynamic nature of the outbreak, countries impacted and recommendations for travel restrictions are updated on a daily basis. It is the City of Stamford's goal to provide the public with the best, most transparent real-time information.
The Office of Public Safety, along with the Stamford Health Department, is closely monitoring COVID-19 and is in frequent communication with the CDC and The State of Connecticut Department of Health. To date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut; however, in partnership with local city and health officials, emergency medical responders and Stamford Hospital, the city is prepared to respond if the virus is detected in Stamford.
Key points from Friday's meeting:
· If your child is sick, please keep him/her home. Follow Mead School's timing guidelines for return to school.
· Frequent hand-washing is critical to preventing illness. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or the length of singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice), or use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol.
· Report symptoms: If you have traveled to any of the affected areas or feel that your child has had exposure to someone who has traveled and is presenting symptoms, please call the Stamford Health Department for advice on the best course of action. If there is a need for evaluation, the Health Department has a process in place for notifying the hospital of patients before they come in. In addition, please inform me, Robyn Santagata or Jeannette Baxendale as soon as possible. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat.
· Remain calm: On Friday's phone call, Dr. Calder stressed that it is the Health Department's priority to be at the forefront with respect to current information and preparedness in order to prevent panic. Mead has direct access to Health Department resources who are in close communication with Federal and State officials. All are working together to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information needed to help keep our community safe.
Additional points of importance:
· Understand the facts: Remember that the virus is not specific to any single race or origin. Discouraging stigma is important. See more HERE.
· Make informed decisions regarding travel: Follow travel advisories and directives from the World Health Organization, CDC, and governmental organizations. At this time, there are no recommendations as to delayed return to school following travel, however there is the potential for plans to be put in place as our March Break approaches.
To ensure that we have a plan to respond if the virus is detected in Stamford, The Mead School Safety Committee, in conjunction with the Administration, is working on its pandemic plan, as well as an updated plan for K-8 distance-based learning in order to maintain the continuity of our program. If an outbreak should occur, we will be advised as to when the school may have to be closed, and for what period of time. At this time, there is no way to predict the likelihood of a closure.
In the coming weeks, we will update you on school-related information regarding this situation. As the Health Department stressed to us, we must be proactive and prepare for a worst-case scenario so that we have the best response plan in place. To that end, of key importance is our continued partnership with the Department of Health, who will be providing updates to us as they are received.
For other resources on COVID-19 please visit this link:
https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Public-Health-Preparedness/Main-Page/2019-Novel-Coronavirus
The health and safety of the Mead community is our top priority. Thank you for your help as we navigate the prevention of this virus.
My kind regards,
Stephanie B. Whitney
© 2019 The Mead School | 1095 Riverbank Road | Stamford, CT 06903 School: 203-595-9500 | Early Learning Center: 203-595-0708 | Fax: 203-595-0735 | Voice Mail: 203-595-0853 |