Schools, churches, hospitals prepare for COVID-19 response

While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri, officials are taking steps to prevent the disease’s spread and prepare for any cases that may develop.

Schools

Southeast Missouri State University is suspending all university-affiliated travel to certain countries affected by COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, according to a message sent by university president Carlos Vargas late Wednesday.

While no cases have been confirmed at Southeast, university officials continue to regularly monitor guidance from the CDC, World Health Organization, and state and local health officials, according to the message.

All university-affiliated travel to China, Italy, Iran and South Korea is suspended until further notice. The list could be expanded as the CDC updates its travel guidance.

“In accordance with CDC guidance, we also strongly recommend that all members of the Southeast community avoid any personal travel to those countries,” the message stated.

Spring break will be from March 16 to 20, and the message recommends Southeast students, faculty and staff “strongly consider the necessity of any upcoming, personal travel.”

“If you plan to travel internationally, be mindful of the increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus. In addition to potential exposure, you could experience unexpected travel delays and cumbersome logistics upon returning to the United States, including the potential for missed work or classes due to self-quarantine,” the message stated.

“We appreciate the help of every member of our community as we journey through this public health issue,” Vargas said in the message.

Jackson School District spokeswoman Merideth Pobst said the district sent out an informational email to all parents Monday, to answer potential questions about the disease and how the district is responding.

The message included links to factual information, and general tips to avoid the spread of any illness, such as the flu, Pobst said.

Beth Emmendorfer, assistant superintendent of elementary and student services with the district, has been in regular communication with the county health department on best practices and updated information, Pobst said.

Custodial staff is also wiping desks down more often, and cleaning high-traffic areas more frequently, Pobst said. They’ve also added some hand-sanitizer dispensers to keep ahead of demand.

In the Cape Girardeau School District, spokeswoman Kristin Tallent said, in accordance with recommendations from the CDC, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and county health department, “Our focus right now is on the steps we can take as a district to help prevent the spread of any respiratory illness.”

Thorough cleanliness of buildings is a top priority, Tallent said.

“We have five electrostatic cleaning machines that are utilized by buildings regularly and are currently all being used to help disinfect buildings,” Tallent said.

School nurses and teachers are reminding students of the importance of proper hygiene, she added: “While it’s an important message for our students, we feel it is also important for adults to hear, too.”

Information packets will go to families Friday, asking to help keep buildings clean and safe by keeping students home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours, and to disinfect backpacks and school items, Tallent said.

Hospitals

SoutheastHEALTH chief medical officer Dr. Matt Janzow said in a statement that the coronavirus is not new, but COVID-19, the disease caused by a particular coronavirus, is.

In response, SoutheastHEALTH and its satellite facilities follow protocols set forth by the DHSS and the CDC.

“The best thing individuals can do to avoid getting the coronavirus, or seasonal flu, is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water, making sure to wash for at least 20 seconds and getting the backs of your hands and under your fingernails. Hand sanitizer with an ethyl alcohol content of 70 percent is also useful when soap and water are not readily available,” Janzow said in his statement.

As of Monday, according to the statement, state officials reported more than 60 people have been evaluated for COVID-19 due to travel or exposure history or symptoms. Samples from fewer than 15 people were formally tested for the infection. None have come back positive.

Saint Francis Healthcare System released a joint statement from Gayla Tripp, manager of infection prevention and environmental services, and Dr. Edward LaValle III, chairman of the health care system’s infection prevention committee.

“Saint Francis Healthcare System is preparing for the potential influx of infectious patients due to Coronavirus,” the statement reads.

Evolving guidance from the CDC is continually being implemented into the system’s practices, according to the statement, and within the next two weeks, an exercise to test internal processes will be conducted.

“We are currently seeing patients with symptoms of flu, as expected for this time of year,” the statement continues. “We have screening questions at every point of patient registration ... designed to identify potential infectious patients upon arrival.”

Churches

Bishop Edward Rice of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau sent a letter to clergy and parishioners Wednesday recommending precautions be taken to protect against the spread of illness.

Those precautions include suspending the sign of peace handshaking ritual; suspending the distribution of communion via the chalice; sanitizing holy water fonts; and encouraging good hygiene practices.

Government

According to World Health Organization data, worldwide, as of Thursday morning, just more than 80,000 cases had been confirmed, and nearly 3,000 deaths reported.

In the United States, according to the CDC, 99 total cases are confirmed, with 10 deaths, in 13 states, since Jan. 21.

Missouri is not one of those states with a confirmed case.

Jane Wernsman, executive director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, said there are no cases in Cape Girardeau County or in Missouri “that we are aware of.”

For prevention, “I think they’ve found that social distancing measures when you’re ill can greatly help reduce the spread of most communicable diseases,” Wernsman said.

“We know now it’s spread by coughing, sneezing, or close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands,” Wernsman said. “Good basic hygiene and measures like that are helpful.”

Wernsman said officials are continuing to closely monitor the situation, including the Cape Girardeau County infectious disease task force, which met last week to update health care providers, school officials and others.

“The task force routinely meets and monitors new and emerging communicable diseases,” Wernsman said. “We have a community awareness and community effort, and a group that is looking at all different aspects of disease prevention.”

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Precautions for prevention

Officials recommended these practices to prevent disease transmission

• Practice good hand-washing (wet, lather, scrub for 20 seconds, rinse and dry)
• Wear a mask to prevent exposure to others
• Disinfect backpacks, other carried items
• Limit touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Limit direct contact with other people
• Stay home if ill, until fever-free for 24 hours
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow
• Use hand sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol content
• Get vaccinated for seasonal influenza