WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The School District of Palm Beach County is taking a proactive stance to combat the coronavirus.
A letter sent to parents and staff Monday morning said the district has implemented enhanced campus kitchen cleaning at all schools for the next 30 days.
"This proactive district-wide cleaning initiative will be re-evaluating at the end of March to determine if continued intensive cleaning is warranted," the district said.
She said the district is also in communication with the Florida Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the coronavirus.
So far, there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Palm Beach County, though Gov. Ron DeSantis said there are two presumptive cases in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.
"The district is taking this health threat very seriously, continuing to monitor schools for potential cases," the district said.
Inside the Academy for Positive Learning in Lake Worth Beach, a charter school, the threat of the disease is the topic of discussion during class to help calm fears.
"Me and my friends are very concerned about the coronavirus," Kyle Lipinski, a fourth-grade student at the charter school, told WPTV NewsChannel 5. "We don't want it so we wash our hands more than once and we wipe our hands with hand sanitizer all the time."
Teachers are also educating students about hand hygiene by showing a video from the CDC's website. "Wash your hands and make sure that everyone that touches you, including your doctor, cleans their hands too," a doctor says in the video.
"Parents who don’t understand English, English not being their first language, we give them resources and websites they can look in Spanish or their native language," Principal Renatta Espinoza said.
Although the threat to the public remains low in Florida, Espinoza said combating the coronavirus is a priority.
"We've been educating our staff also about the coronavirus and making sure they follow the steps too as in educating the kids and what necessary resources they need," Espinoza said.
The Florida Department of Health advises the following:
- If you are sick, stay home from school.
- Avoid close contact with those who are already sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or the crook of your arm.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
The school district has activated a website dedicated specifically to updates and educational information about the coronavirus.
The Florida Department of Health has activated a coronavirus hotline at 866-779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov. The call center is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dr. Alina Alonso, the director of the Florida Department of Health for Palm Beach County, will update the school board during a meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m.