NOLA-PS issues statement regarding Preparations for the Potential Impacts due to the Coronavirus

New Orleans – (March 2, 2020) – NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) has been coordinating with the Mayor’s office, as well as local and state agencies, as we monitor the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Maintaining the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff at all schools is our top priority at this time.

NOLA-PS senior leadership will be meeting with school leaders on Tuesday, March 3 to discuss how to plan for and manage any impacts the COVID-19 may have on Orleans Parish public schools and to ensure families are receiving the most accurate information regarding health-safety and education.

NOLA-PS would like to provide Orleans Parish public school families with information on how the district is preparing for any potential issues due to the spread of the virus nationally. The following is information Orleans Parish public schools, parents, and students should keep in mind.

Protecting yourself from Coronavirus COVID-19 (source: Louisiana Department of Health)

About Coronavirus:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

How does Coronavirus COVID-19 spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:
• Through respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
The Louisiana Office of Public Health encourages schools to increase education on ways to protect staff and students from illnesses such as the cold, flu and also the coronavirus:
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Clean surfaces frequently, such as countertops, light switches, cellphones and other frequently touched areas.
• Contain – if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.

For more information on the virus, visit http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus.

For information on what to do if you are sick, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf.

If you have questions about Coronavirus, please contact the Coronavirus general information line at 1-855-523-2652 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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ABOUT NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish, which includes the district’s elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board and the district’s administration led by NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 78 public schools. For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.