Breaking Health News COVID-19
Coronavirus Information from your School NursesTop of Page
- ●Stay home as much as possible.
- Prepare your own food in your own home as much as possible.
- Avoid gathering in public places and avoid crowds.
- ●Keep 6 feet away from other people as much as possible.
- ●Minimize social contact.
- This includes intimate gatherings among friends. This recommendation suggests that play-dates, sleep overs, and other gatherings of young people should be carefully considered.
- When gathering outside follow the distance recommendation of staying 6-feet apart.
- Groups of students or entire athletic teams should not gather on the athletic fields or school yards
- ●Coronavirus is a new virus. This means that the virus will spread more quickly.
- ●Experts are suggesting that people may be contagious before having symptoms. The average person is infecting 2-4 others and the number of infections in an area can multiply by ten every sixteen days.
- ●Measures that we take today will exponentially reduce the spread of the virus.
- ●Call your primary care provider.
- ●Follow strict social distancing protocols, staying 6-feet from others
- ●Contact the Newburyport Board of Health for any questions
- ●The school nurses will be available by email during regular school hours.
- ●Who can help if my family needs assistance with food?
- ○Our Neighbors Table*
- ■Our Neighbors' Table (ONT) is open and available as a great resource for free groceries. Their information is available on their website, Food Market in Newburyport open Thursdays from 11am to 2pm and in Amesbury* Wed-12-3pm*, Thurs.-3-6pm*, Fri. 9-12pm*, and Sat. 9-12pm* but call ahead but call ahead for distribution processes*
- ■Contact:978-388-9807 ONTProgramCard2020
- ○School Department
- ■The schools will continue to communicate and coordinate with Youth Services and ONT to meet the needs of our families.
- ■Contact:Cathy Riccio at criccio@newburyport.k12.ma.us
- ○Newburyport Youth Services
- ■Andi Egmont and staff are organizing volunteers to assist with deliveries
- ■Contact: youthservices@cityofnewburyport.com
- ●Who can I contact for more information or questions?
- ●Cathy Riccio, Coordinator of Health Services, via email criccio@newburyport.k12.ma.us
- ●Frank Giacalone RS, Director of the Newburyport Board of Health at fgiacalone@cityofnewburyport.com.
CDC INFORMATION
MA DPH INFORMATION
- Simple reassurance. Remind children that researchers and doctors are learning as much as they can, as quickly as they can, about the virus and are taking steps to keep everyone safe.
- Give them control. It's also a great time to remind your children of what they can do to help – washing their hands often, coughing into a tissue or their sleeves, and getting enough sleep.
- Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not have the words to express their worry, but you may see signs of it. They may get cranky, be more clingy, have trouble sleeping, or seem distracted. Keep the reassurance going and try to stick to your normal routines. Children will follow your lead.
- Monitor their media. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. For older children, talk together about what they are hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Use Alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or cough into your sleeve. Throw used tissues in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels or other items. Wash these items thoroughly with soap and water after use.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick whenever possible.
- Practice good health habits: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Information for Parents about Flu in SchoolsTop of Page
Flu spreads easily from person to person. If you think your child is getting the flu:
- Keep your child home. It is very important that your child does not go to school or other places where they could spread the flu virus to other people, such as group childcare, after school programs, the mall, or sporting events.
- Call your doctor’s office and let them know your child’s symptoms and history. Your doctor will advise you whether you should come to the office. It is best to call ahead so that you help prevent spreading illness to others.
- Call your child’s school to notify them that they are sick, and tell the school nurse if your child has flu-like symptoms.
- Keep your school nurse updated on your child’s medical condition.
- Do not give your child or teenager (18 years of age or younger) aspirin or aspirin-containing products due to the rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
- All individuals with flu-like symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, without using fever-reducing medicines. These medicines include Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen), Tylenol (acetaminophen) or a store brand. Keeping children with a fever at home will keep them from getting other people sick. For most people, this will be about 4 days. See the ‘Flu Symptom Checklist for Families and Schools’ on page 4 for more information.
- Schools are not allowed to accept a doctor’s note recommending a child with flu-like symptoms return to school before the time period described above.
Please use the checklist below to help you decide when to keep your child home from school.
- Has your child had a fever of 100.4 degrees or more in the past 24
hours? - Does your child have a cough OR sore throat?
If you answered YES to either one of the questions above, your child CANNOT return to school. Keep your child home for at least another day to
observe for additional symptoms.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF FLU?Top of Page
Where can I find more information about influenza? 1) Call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health information line: 211 2) Go to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health influenza website: mass.gov/ flu 3) A “Fever Fact Sheet” with information on how to take a temperature is also available. Additional Sites for Information
The following links are suggested readings for discussion at home. |
Information in SPANISH & FRENCHTop of Page
- Cough Poster-Espanol
- Cough Poster-Francais
- Staying at Home With the Flu-Espanol
- Staying At Home With the Flu-Francais
- Parent Poster-Espanol
- Flu What You Can Do: Caring for People at Home
- Flu Prevention and Food Allergies
- Flu Prevention and Asthma