March 2, 2020
Dear St. Michael Catholic School Families,
We hope you had a great weekend. Given the considerable media attention on Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are writing to share some information on this topic as it pertains to SMCS. As many of you know, the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that they now expect the outbreak to continue to spread in the United States. We want to assure you that we are taking this threat of illness seriously and are continuously monitoring for updates and new directives. As it stands today, the City of Houston Health Department reports that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Houston or Harris County and that the immediate threat to the public health of Houston is low.
Given the evolving situation, The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is working closely with the Houston Health Department to monitor this situation. While much is being learned about this newly emerged virus, based on the current information, our local and state health officials deem that the risk of local transmission in our community to be very low at this time.
In situations like these where media reports may cause concern amongst our families, please rely on factual information from reliable sources. Here are links to information about the novel coronavirus from local, state, national, and international health organizations:
Public health officials recommend that everyone follow basic prevention guidelines, including:
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Everyone 6 months and older is encouraged to get a flu shot.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol based sanitizer.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Stay home when you are sick. Keeping a sick child at home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover.
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Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
SMCS is also working with our cleaning service to ensure that they are following best practices for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting during this time.
SMCS will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Please keep the affected families around the globe in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for your support of our school community.
