Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

 

Dear Lufkin ISD Family,

An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has caused an outbreak of respiratory illness and the United States has confirmed cases in various locations across the country. I want to assure you that Lufkin ISD (LISD) 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. LISD is currently operating at Level 1: Alert Status as detailed in the accompanying chart.

Updated information from the CDC on COVID-19 in the United States can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. The most recent information about COVID-19 in Texas may be found at: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.

Much is being learned about this newly emerged disease. Based on the current information, health officials are recommending local communities and schools should take the same steps to protect against COVID-19 as we take to prevent the spread of everyday illnesses like the common cold or the flu:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

COVID-19 is believed to be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much in the way the flu and other respiratory viruses are spread. Symptoms can be fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. At this time, persons considered at risk are those with travel to China, or those in close contact with persons infected with COVID-19.

While a new type of illness can be scary, we can protect our students, teachers, and the broader community by using simple everyday actions that protect people from other types of respiratory viruses. Our teachers, school nurses, and staff are working carefully to encourage these simple and effective habits of frequent hand washing, covering every cough or sneeze, and cleaning classroom tables/surfaces frequently. This is important not just to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but to help prevent the spread of other infections that can lead to student illness and absences.

Thank you for your support of our district, our schools, our students and our teachers and staff.

Sincerely,

Lynn Torres
Lufkin ISD Superintendent of Schools

District Cleaning Practices
  • Frequent cleaning of buses
  • Frequent cleaning of common facilities and frequently touched surfaces (commonly shared items such as keyboards, classroom desks, shared instruments, faucets, door knobs, push doors) throughout the day
  • Provide additional hand sanitizers
District Communication
  • Communication will be via major media, Remind, District social media and the District website
Alert Levels
LISD Alert Level 1: Alert Status

(No reported cases in the area)

  • Communicate to parents to keep sick children home
  • Communicate to staff to stay home if sick
  • Review Business Continuation Plan and Pandemic Plans; Begin daily departmental briefings for communication updates
  • Review National Incident Management System (incident command), Multihazard Emergency Operations Procedures, and Parent-Child Reunification Plans
  • Communicate online and to campuses the precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19
  • Frequently clean common areas including door hardware, bus seats, etc.
  • Continue to monitor attendance and communicate with Angelina County & Cities Health District
LISD Alert Level 2: Alert and Precautions

(Cases in the region, but not in the local area)

  • Continue to monitor attendance and communicate with Angelina County & Cities Health District
  • Communicate to parents to keep sick children home
  • Communicate to staff to stay home if sick
  • Develop contingency plans and review Business Continuation Plan
  • Potentially limit all unnecessary travel
  • Potentially limit large gatherings to only essential events or consider postponing essential events
  • Potentially limit/restrict outside visitors and guests
  • Potentially restrict outside food deliveries to facilities with Angelina County & Cities Health District
LISD Alert Level 3: Response and Mitigation

(Reported local cases)

  • Consider closing campuses, feeder areas, entire district in consultation with the Angelina County & Cities Health District
  • Communicate to parents the extent of closures, length, and school work accommodations
  • In the event of campus closures, communicate to staff which members are to report to duty to maintain services
  • Cancel all school events and building rentals
  • Cancel all travel
  • Cancel all events
  • Clean all areas
Reminders
  1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
  2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
  4. Cleaning your hands by washing them often or using hand sanitizer will help protect you from germs.
  5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread when a person touches something contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
  6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
  7. Contact your family doctor if you have coronavirus-like symptoms and you have any questions.
  8. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others or for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).