Newtown Schools Announce Coronavirus Prevention Steps

NEWTOWN, CT — Town and school officials continue to monitor the new coronavirus and its potential impact. Newtown Public Schools has suspended all overseas trips.

There have been no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Connecticut. There are a total of 60 confirmed cases across the U.S. across 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been six deaths as of March 3, according to the CDC. The figures don't include people who returned to the U.S. via State Department-chartered flights.

Town officials continue to monitor the situation and are in daily briefings with state and federal health agencies. Health departments across the state are being notified when residents return from traveling in mainland China. The Newtown Health District urges residents to practice good hygiene including frequent hand-washing and staying home when sick.

School Superintendent Dr. Lorrie Rodrigue encouraged parents not to send their sick children to school and to seek medical attention for flu-like symptoms.

"Our District is in constant communication with the Newtown Health District and will follow protocols should a case be confirmed in the community," Rodrigue said in the letter. "In the meantime, custodians are being asked to clean schools thoroughly, including the use of disinfectants to wipe down tables, desktops, door handles, and other touch points where germs and infection are often found."

Read Rodrigue's full letter here.