SWAMPSCOTT — Although Swampscott School Superintendent Pamela Angelakis stresses that only one person from a school in the commonwealth has been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19), she has outlined preventative measures the district has taken in a letter to parents.
Angelakis, who wrote the letter — obtained Tuesday by The Item — Monday, said the district considered the safety of students its highest priority. And she said that even though none of those school cases have been reported in Essex County, the district has taken the following measures
— Upon recommendations from the commonwealth, student trips to Spain and France have been canceled. A student trip to Puerto Rico has also been canceled.
“Although considered domestic, I am concerned about the potential of exposing our students to international citizens through air travel during this trip,” she wrote.
— Elementary students are using hand sanitizer stands placed outside lunchrooms prior to their lunch periods.
— All surfaces — including ceilings, railings and doorknobs — are being cleaned daily.
— Schools have been given Clorox disinfecting wipes to clean computers, laptops and electronic devices.
— Nurses at all schools are collecting data on all staff and student symptoms and providing it to the Department of Public Health, as requested.
— Finally, “out of an abundance of caution,” Angelakis wrote, “nurses are sending students and staff home if they have a fever and strictly enforcing our 24-hour fever-free policy.”
Angelakis also asked that parents used their best judgment in determining whether they go to work if they’re not feeling well or send their children to school if they show any symptoms.
She also asked that if anyone has traveled to a high-risk area, or returned from a cruise, to strongly consider a 14-day self-quarantine.
