H1N1 Question

I was asked today by a parent about what we are doing at Cokato Elementary to help prevent the spread of viruses, whether they are H1N1 or other communicable diseases. Good question! Teachers are encouraging students to wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom, before eating, after blowing their nose, etc. Actually, those are times we have always emphasized good hand washing! The lunch room has a hand sanitizer near the milk cooler that children are also encouraged to use before they pick up their trays. The good news is that these viruses have a short life! The viruses do not survive over night so they are not lingering into the next day. That's good!
Our attendance is constantly being monitored by our nurse and superintendent. We don't foresee closing school for illness. The experience we've had so far this fall is that students are able to come back to school in about 5 days, some longer if the fever persists. In the meantime, keep encouraging your children to wash their hands often just as we are doing so at school. Stay healthy!