Important Message from Dr. Thacker re: COVID-19 (3/10/2020) | Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Skip to main content

Important Message from Dr. Thacker re: COVID-19 (3/10/2020)

The message below was sent out to all P-H-M staff and families the afternoon of March 10, 2020.

 

Dear P-H-M Families,
 

Several members of the P-H-M Administration Team met with leaders of the St. Joseph County Department of Health today to discuss the evolving health protocols and procedures for COVID-19. Today’s meeting was part of P-H-M’s ongoing communication with local health systems and the county health department.

 

The Indiana State Department of Health Department (ISDH) is tracking the state’s COVID-19 cases and sharing the information on their website (click here to read). Currently the ISDH has tested 36 people across the state and six people have tested positive in the following counties: Hendricks (2), Marion (1), Boone (1), Adams (1); and Noble (1). Right now, there are no confirmed cases in Saint Joseph County. 

 

We are taking guidance and direction from St. Joseph County Department of Health and ISDH. At this time, we have not been advised to make any changes to our academic or extracurricular calendars. The guidance provided at this time is that the elderly and those with serious medical underlying conditions should avoid large gatherings of any kind.

 

St. Joseph County Department of Health will notify us immediately of a confirmed case of COVID-19 should it impact our district. If there was a confirmed case, we would work directly with and take guidance from these local and state health experts. We will only be able to share information as permitted by HIPPA and by health officials.

 

We are also following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations on disinfection and sanitization of high traffic areas in our buildings. P-H-M Custodial Staff has been conducting extra cleaning in our schools since the beginning of flu season; we have since increased those measures to help prevent the spread of seasonal contagious diseases. These same cleaning measures are recommended by the CDC to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

 

We are reminding all P-H-M staff of proper hand hygiene, and teachers are reminding students. With our younger students, teachers are giving refreshers on proper hand washing techniques. St. Joseph County Department of Health officials reiterated with us today that the CDC recommendations continue to be the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  1. Clean hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Soap and water is best, washing the hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  2. Cover your mouth and nose. Remind your students to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. The best thing is to cover the mouth and nose area with a tissue and then throw the tissue immediately away. Second best, if tissues are not available, is to cough/sneeze into your elbow. 
  3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
     

Please remember that we are still in flu season. If students are sick please keep them home. Students should not return to school until they are fever and symptom free (this includes coughing and sneezing during flu season) for 24 hours. Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viruses and the symptoms are very similar (click here for COVID-19 symptoms as described by the CDC). If you or a family member is having flu-like symptoms, you should contact your family physician for medical guidance. 

 

Please use these resources for more information on the COVID-19 situation nationally and in our state:

 

You can also contact the St. Joseph County Department of Health at (574) 235-9750.

 

Thank you for your patience during this rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to provide updates to the P-H-M family when they become available.

 

Dr. Jerry Thacker​
Superintendent of Schools