Following the first reported non-travel-related coronavirus case, Klein ISD has moved to operate under a Level 2 risk status, according to a March 12 news release.
Under a Level 2 status, the district will continue to maintain communications with the Harris County Public Health Department, increase sanitation efforts in all school areas, and potentially limit all unnecessary travel and large school gatherings, according to the news release.
The district continues to communicate with families, asking for sick staff and students to stay home. As a result, any coronavirus-related school absences will be considered excused, and KISD's perfect attendance timeline now runs from Aug. 19 to March 6. Additionally, the timeline for KISD's attendance criteria in regard to final-exam exemptions now ends March 6.
Should there be confirmed coronavirus cases among KISD students or staff, the district will move to a Level 3 risk status, in which all school events, school-related travel and campuses could potentially be canceled or closed.
As previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper, as of March 12, there are 16 confirmed or presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in the Greater Houston area, with five cases in unincorporated Harris County.
Posted 3:19 p.m. March 9
Klein ISD plans to maintain a Level 1 risk status amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to a March 6 news release.
According to the release, a Level 1 status means KISD is actively monitoring reported cases of the virus in Harris County, while increasing the frequency in which common areas are sanitized and actively communicating updates with parents and staff. KISD reports there are no known cases of coronavirus within the district's borders as of March 6. According to the release, all known cases of the virus in Harris County have been travel-related, making the risk of community-spread infection low.
Should the virus spread within the community, KISD will transition to a Level 2 risk status, in which the district could potentially limit or postpone large gatherings to necessary events, limit outside visitors and guests or restrict external deliveries to facilities. In a situation in which there are confirmed coronavirus cases within the district, KISD will move to a Level 3 status, and potentially cancel school events, any school-related travel for students and staff or close campuses.
While KISD normally cleans its facilities during spring break, this year the district will use hospital-grade cleaning products, such as Protexus, to sanitize school buses and campuses during the week of March 9-13.
As previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper, as of March 9, there are 12 confirmed or presumptive cases of coronavirus in the Greater Houston area, with four cases in unincorporated Harris County.
