WYLIE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Health Services Department
Health Notice: Flu and Coronavirus
An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has caused an outbreak of respiratory illness and the United States has confirmed a handful of coronavirus cases related to travel. I want to assure you that our school district is keeping track of this situation through proven and trustworthy sources: our local health department, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These health officials believe the risk to our school community is low at this time.
Wylie ISD follows the guidance and expertise of national and local health officials to help protect our students and staff from all communicable diseases. While there are no reports of this illness in our area, families are encouraged to visit CDC website for more information regarding the Coronavirus.
Please be assured that Wylie ISD will continue to be in communication with our local partners and stand ready to take all appropriate measures. School Health Services is closely monitoring all developments and is in communication with public health officials.
Our campus custodial staff will also continue to disinfect campuses each day with hospital grade products to help offset the spread of communicable illnesses, but it takes all of us to ensure healthy school environments. As a reminder, we are still in the midst of cold and flu season, and it’s important for families to take preventative measures to safeguard themselves from the spread of communicable diseases.
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION
The District takes the following measures to ensure a safe learning environment for all students and staff:
- Continuously educate students, staff, and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when ill; and other measures to prevent the spread of all communicable disease;
- Routinely disinfect campuses with our cleaner which is effective against multiple disease-causing viruses and bacteria;
- Monitor students for symptoms and refer students to the school nurse for assessment as appropriate;
- School nurses exclude students from school attendance according to Department of State Health Services Guidelines; and
- Work with Collin County Health and Human Services' Epidemiology Branch for any suspected case of a "Reportable Condition."
Parents and guardians can help to keep their child, our schools, and community healthy by:
- Observing their child for signs of infection which may include coughing, colds, fever, itching on the skin and scalp and unusual rashes.
- Keeping sick students at home and seeking medical attention for severe illness.
- Reinforcing the importance of good hand hygiene.
- Adopting healthy practices, such as disposing of used tissues, coughing into a sleeve rather than into a hand, and not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth
- Keeping children home until free of fever for 24 hours (without the aid of fever reducing medication)
- Keeping children home until diarrhea free for 24 hours (without the aid of anti-diarrheal medication)
- Receiving the flu vaccine
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Wylie ISD Health Services Coordinator, Amy Hillin, RN at amy.hillin@wylieisd.net.
951 South Ballard Avenue • Wylie, Texas 75098-0490 • (972) 429-2373 • FAX (972) 941-9746
