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As described by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that mainly spreads from person to person
(within about six feet) through coughs and sneezes. The virus that causes COVID-
19 was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.
You can access the CDC resource page here.
The World Health Organization provides a few protective measures against the
new coronavirus:
1. Wash hands frequently
2. Maintain social distancing – at least three feet from anyone who is coughing
or sneezing
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
4. Practice respiratory hygiene (cover your mouth and nose with bent elbow or
tissue when you cough or sneeze)
5. If you experience symptoms, get medical care early!
Here is what we also know at this time: The CDC this week issued a warning that
it is not a question of IF Coronavirus Disease will spread to the United States, but
WHEN.
Just this morning, I read news reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
has called for all schools in his country to be closed through the spring holidays.
This unprecedented move – which keeps 13 million students at home – is part of
an effort there to combat the further spread of the virus.
As an educator – even one 7,000 miles away from Japan – that gives me concern
and pause.
I should also make it clear that Atlanta Public Schools is not the expert authority
on this issue. As such, many of the decisions and plans around quarantines or
school closures will be led by the federal government with assistance from state
emergency management officials. We have already received guidance from those
agencies – which include the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), the
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Fulton County Board of Health
(BOH), and the CDC – and are incorporating key components into our emergency
management practices.
Justo esta mañana, leí informes de noticias de que el primer ministro japonés,
Shinzo Abe, ha pedido que todas las escuelas de su país cierren durante las
vacaciones de primavera. Esta medida sin precedentes, que mantendrá a 13
millones de estudiantes en casa, es parte de un esfuerzo para combatir la
propagación del virus.
Como educadora, incluso a 7,000 millas de distancia de Japón, eso me preocupa y
me hace reflexionar.
De nuevo, como en cualquier situación de emergencia (inclemencias del clima,
advertencias de salud, etc.), APS está preparado para instituir nuestras prácticas
de manejo de emergencias, lo cual se explica en blogs anteriores que puede
ver aquí y el más recientemente aquí.
Si tuviéramos que cerrar las escuelas, también podríamos lanzar APS
WeatherWise, nuestra plataforma de aprendizaje en línea, diseñada para
prevenir la pérdida de aprendizaje al complementar el tiempo perdido en el
salón de clases durante situaciones de manejo de emergencias a través de la
tecnología. Esto es lo que queremos decir con “teleescuela”. Si se trata de
extender el cierre de escuelas a largo plazo, estamos buscando más formas de
expandir los servicios, incluido el acceso a materiales de instrucción y artículos
esenciales como alimentos.
Estos tipos de servicios requerirán más planificación, de los cuales son continuos.