Stan Lewis, the Director of Communications for the district, said Monday night's announcement at the State Capitol confirming the cases in Fulton County were concerning enough to prompt school officials to restrict some attendance policies at school facilities.
According to a press statement issued Tuesday afternoon, the district is now requiring the following:
Parents or guardians of current students and registering new students who have traveled outside of the United States in the past 14 days must call their respective schools for guidance regarding COVID-19. Parents should call prior to their child coming to school or attending any school activity - before, during or after school. This also includes students who have had family members or individuals living at home who have traveled outside of the United States in the past 14 days.
Hall County School District team members who have traveled outside of the United States in the past 14 days should contact their principal or direct supervisor prior to coming to work or to any school campus activity - before, during or after school hours. This also includes school volunteers, community coaches and all team members who have had family members or individuals living at home who have traveled outside of the United States in the past 14 days.
Lewis also said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides a daily updated list of countries designated as “High Risk” by the federal government. This list can be found at the following link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea are currently designated level three and are high risk. Japan is currently listed as level two.
Effective immediately, the Hall County School District will require students and staff members who have traveled to a country designated at level two or higher in the past 14 days to stay at home and self-monitor for 14 days prior to returning to work or to school.
Additionally, the following also applies to students and staff under these conditions who are at home self-monitoring:
- Students/staff must be fever free for 14 days before returning to work/school.
- If a student/staff member presents with symptoms during the self-monitoring period, the Department of Public Health must be notified immediately at 1-866-PUB-HLTH and the student should seek medical assistance.
- Assignments will be provided to students by the school.
- Student absences will be excused.
Lewis said no cases of suspected coronavirus have been reported in the Hall County School District.
Lewis also said school district officials have been working with the Hall County Emergency Management Agency to ensure protocols are updated and valid. A meeting is on the schedule for Wednesday, according to Lewis.
