Flu, COVID-19 reminders and updates

  • Posted March 2, 2020
Flu, COVID-19 reminders and updates

Dear Families:

This has been a difficult flu season for school districts and communities throughout the Capital Region. I am writing to inform you about steps we continue to take in the City School District of Albany to provide healthy environments for all students and staff, and also to assure you that we are monitoring developments regarding COVID-19, more commonly referred to as coronavirus.

As we do in all health-related matters, we are following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State and Albany County departments of health, and the New York State Education Department. We have no reported cases of COVID-19 in our school district, and as of March 2 reports indicated that there was one confirmed case of COVID-19 in New York. 

Steps we have taken throughout this flu season include disinfecting contact surfaces such as door handles, railings, desktops, water fountains and other surfaces. We are continuing to follow these procedures, and we encourage you to do the same at home. 

We also would like to share information about practices you can take at home to help reduce the spread of a variety of illnesses, including the flu and COVID-19, and help your family stay healthy.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. We have asked our building principals to make sure that all students have the opportunity to wash their hands before lunch each day, and over the next few weeks we will be installing hand-sanitizer dispensers in high-traffic areas at each school. 
  • Know the signs and symptoms of flu – fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and feeling very tired. Some people may also have nausea or vomiting. 
  • If you or a family member show any of these symptoms, particularly symptoms of a respiratory illness, talk with your health-care provider. 
  • Teach your children to cover their mouths with a tissue or the inside of their elbow or arm – instead of their hands – when they cough or sneeze. 
  • Keep sick children home while they have flu symptoms, and for 24 hours after the fever goes away without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
  • Teach your children not to share items like toothbrushes, drinks, food or eating utensils.
  • If your child has chronic health problems and displays flu-like symptoms, contact your health-care provider immediately.

We also have included these additional helpful resources below, and you also can visit our Health Services section.

The health and safety of all of our students is a top priority for us. Our Health Services staff will continue to work closely with the county and state health departments to monitor flu conditions as well as updates regarding COVID-19. Please talk with your school principal or nurse if you have additional questions.

Yours in education,

Kaweeda G. Adams
Superintendent