Students, Staff Banned From SAU 16 If They Were In COVID-19 Areas

EXETER, NH — SAU 16, the school district for the Exeter, Brentwood, East Kingston, Kensington, Newfields, and Stratham public schools, has barred all students and staff who traveled to Level 3 countries during the winter break in an effort to stave off any infections from the new coronavirus in the district. David Ryan, superintendent of SAU 16, said the decision was made this week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered new recommendations for people who have traveled to Level 3 countries — Iran, Italy, and South Korea — to take precautions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 to other people, and stay home for 14 days after returning to the United States. Americans who have returned from China are already being monitored and should be quarantined, he said.

"Given these updated recommendations, SAU 16 is requiring all students or staff who traveled to these countries over the winter break to discontinue their attendance at school and all school-related events until they have been back in the United States and symptom-free for 14 days," Ryan said.

Ryan said alternative learning opportunities for families affected are being arraigned by school principals.

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Parents and guardians, Ryan said, were reminded that taking preventative measures shouldn't only be done due to concern for coronavirus. The district wants parents to work to prevent the spread of anything infectious, including the flu, respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal illnesses. Ryan said students "need to be free from fever, vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school if they have been sick." Students and staff are advised to stay home and not go to school if they present any of those symptoms, he said.

"Every year during flu season, the district works to sanitize and clean its facilities regularly and comprehensively," Ryan said. "These efforts include cleaning and disinfecting all frequently touched items and areas including doorknobs, keyboards, restrooms and water fountains; disinfecting preschool toys and play areas; and posting signs in restrooms to educate students on effective handwashing and catching coughs and sneezes. SAU 16 has also been using Clorox Electrostatic Sprayers daily in their disinfecting efforts."

For more news about the coronavirus from around the United States, visit the Across America Patch COV-19 Roundup site.

Ryan said parents could find more information at the NH DHHS website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here. Parents are also encouraged to use this resource to learn more about how to talk to their children about the coronavirus situation, he added.

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