As your District school nurse and building nurses, the health team wanted to put out some information regarding the new respiratory disease, COVID -19, that has caused all of our worlds to come to a standstill. Because this is a very new strain of the Corona virus, health officials are all still learning about it as are the rest of the us. All of the information shared below is from
Center for Disease Control (CDC),
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and
Licking County Health Department (LCHD). I will leave links to those webpages below and we urge you to check those pages often for updated information. There are already many myths spreading and we want to provide our Granville community with the facts. Furthermore, the Licking County Health Department
page is updated daily with the number of confirmed cases in our county.
Please see the attached symptom chart from the CDC. Please check the Licking County Health Department page for information about testing in our area, symptoms and guidance if you feel you need a test.
The COVID-19 virus is thought to be spread person to person by respiratory droplets through the air such as coughing or sneezing or when in close proximity to one another (less than 6 feet). The incubation period seems to be 2-14 days after exposure, however, there is a concern that some could be infectious and spread the virus without having any symptoms themselves. Again, please check the links above for the most updated information about the disease symptoms, transmission and progression.
There currently is not a vaccine available to prevent COVID-19. The treatment is much the same for the flu as it is supportive based on your symptoms. Much more intensive medical interventions may be needed for those with severe respiratory illnesses. Most people with mild cases will be able to get better a home without seeing their physician. However, social distancing to reduce the spread will be crucial in these incidences.
Preventions is much the same as it is for any virus or illness.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water often.
- Cover your cough or sneeze and throw away any tissues.
- Stay home if you are sick, except to seek medical attention.
- Stay away from others that are sick and maintain a distance of 6 feet from others, i.e. coworkers and such
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that touched frequently.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
By the time we come back to school, we will have more
information as to the requirements needed to be at school or return to school
after a COVID-19 illness. We will share those at that time.
The Health clinic staff will be available by email if you
have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to reach out to my email
below, Mrs. Petryk at [email protected]
or Mrs. Varrasso at [email protected].
As others have mentioned, stay connected and use creative
ways to keep your families, friends and communities in touch during this time.
Sincerely,
Gina Burdick, MSN, RN, LSN
District Nurse and GES School Nurse
Granville Exempted Village School District
740-587-8129
[email protected]