Bulkeley COVID Advisory 12/3/20 – Bulkeley High School

December 3, 2020

Dear Families and Staff,

The health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff are our highest priorities. We have learned that a student at Bulkeley (395 Lyme Street) has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), and they have been advised to self-quarantine.

As soon as we were notified of the positive cases, HPS Health Services began collaborating closely with district administration and the Hartford Health Department to follow protocol. The last day the student was at Bulkeley was November 16. HPS Health Services has conducted contact tracing to determine close contacts and have determined there is no need for students or staff to self-quarantine.

Hartford Public Schools’ custodial staff will follow protocols for cleaning and disinfecting the building. These protocols follow state and federal guidelines for preventing the spread of illness.

Teachers, staff, and district administration are working closely with the school to implement protocols and provide support as needed.

In-person classes are currently scheduled to continue unless otherwise notified. As a reminder, it is critical that parents or guardians keep their children home if they exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms and inform their child’s school immediately in the event their child is tested for COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or if your family has been contacted by the health department regarding a potential exposure.

Below is the list of COVID-19 symptoms to monitor in family members:

• • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher)
  • Chills or shaking chills
  • Uncontrolled new cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell

Additional COVID-19 symptoms include muscle pain, fatigue, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, especially with a fever. Students and staff exhibiting any of the above symptoms, or feeling ill, should call their medical provider to report their symptoms and ask about testing prior to seeking in-person care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.

COVID-19 is spread mainly via person-to-person contact through contaminated air droplets from coughing and sneezing by an infected person. As with controlling the spread of other viruses, we urge students and staff to follow these preventive measures:

• • Wash your hands frequently, but especially after using the restroom and before preparing or consuming food. Using soap and hot water, wash for about 20 seconds. Be sure to also wash your fingertips. When soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or in the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze inside the elbow of your arm.
  • As much as you can, avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
  • Wear a face covering (mask) whenever there is a likelihood that you will be in the presence of others.
  • Maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others to the maximum extent possible.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping everyone in our community healthy and safe. If you have any questions, please contact the school directly or call the HPS Health Services Hotline at 860-695-8760.

Sincerely,

Digna A. Mars
Principal
Bulkeley High School

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December 3, 2020

Dear Families and Staff,

The health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff are our highest priorities. We learned that a student in Bulkeley (395 Lyme Street) has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), and has been recommended to self-quarantine.

As soon as we were notified of the positive case, HPS Health Services began working closely with district administration and the Hartford Health Department to follow the protocol. The last day the student was at Bulkeley was November 16. HPS Health Services has conducted contact tracing to determine close contacts and determined that there is no need for students or staff to self-quarantine.

Hartford Public Schools maintenance staff will follow the building cleaning and sanitizing protocols. Those protocols follow state and federal guidelines to prevent the spread of disease.

Teachers, staff, and district administration are working closely with the school to implement protocol and provide support where needed.

Currently face-to-face classes are scheduled to continue, unless otherwise notified. As a reminder, it is crucial that parents or guardians keep their children at home if they exhibit any symptom of COVID-19 and inform your child’s school immediately in the event that your child is tested for COVID-19, tests positive for COVID-19, or if your family has been contacted by the health department regarding possible exposure.

Below is the list of COVID-19 symptoms to monitor in family members:

• • Fever (100.0 ° Fahrenheit or higher)
  • Chills or shaking
  • New, uncontrolled cough (not due to another known cause, such as a chronic cough)
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell

Additional COVID-19 symptoms include muscle pain, fatigue, skin rash, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, especially with fever. Students and staff exhibiting any of the above symptoms, or feeling ill, should call their healthcare provider to report their symptoms and ask about testing before seeking face-to-face care at a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital. .

COVID-19 is spread primarily through person-to-person contact through air droplets contaminated by coughing and sneezing from an infected person. As with controlling the spread of other viruses, we urge students and staff to take the following preventive measures:

• • Wash your hands frequently, but especially after using the bathroom and before or after preparing or consuming food. Using soap and hot water, wash for about 20 seconds. Make sure to wash your fingertips as well. When soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or into the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough / sneeze into your elbow.
  • Avoid as much as you can touch your eyes, mouth, and nose.
  • Wear a face covering (mask) whenever there is a possibility that you will be in the presence of others.
  • Maintain social distancing (a minimum of 6 feet) between yourself and others to the greatest extent possible.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone in our community healthy and safe. If you have any questions, please contact the school directly or call the HPS Health Services Hotline at 860-695-8760.

Sincerely,

Digna A. Mars
Principal
Bulkeley High School

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