According to county officials, no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Tarrant County, but local school districts have already begun to take precautions.
Northwest ISD informed district families Feb. 27 via email best practices and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Keller ISD officials announced March 6 guidelines surrounding the spring break holiday March 9-13.
“We will be asking employees to self-report to their supervisor and families to self-report to their campus principal if they traveled to any of the CDC-restricted areas,” Keller ISD officials said March 6. “We are following the recommendations of the CDC, and in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, employees and families who visited the affected areas will be asked to adhere to the CDC’s 14-day social distancing guidelines.”
In a similar policy decision, Northwest ISD Superintendent Ryder Warren addressed faculty March 5 in a district letter that indicated staff members will be surveyed upon return from spring break.
If any staff have traveled to high-risk countries, they will be directed to follow CDC guidelines including 14 days of quarantine and the submission of a Fitness for Duty Form before returning to their respective campus, the letter said.
Countries deemed high-risk by the CDC, as of March 9, are China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.
District students who travel to high-risk countries and exhibit symptoms of coronavirus to the school nurse will be released to parents and referred to county health officials.
Northwest ISD officials indicated additional precautions the district is taking, including:
- All campuses and facilities will be wiped down with CDC-recommended cleaning solutions with special attention for heavily-touched surfaces.
- District staff will be encouraged not to travel to high-risk countries.
- District staff will submit travel surveys and will adhere to CDC recommendations if they have traveled to high-risk countries.
- District families were mailed information March 6 about steps the district is taking in response to the coronavirus, recommendations for best hygiene practices and the response staff will take if a student presents symptoms to the school nurse.
