Cover Your Cough
Teach scholars coughing and sneezing etiquette in classrooms and hang instructional posters in the school buildings. Have an ample supply of tissues available in each classroom and school area.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands after you cough or sneeze or use hand sanitizer.
Wash Your Hands Often
Handwashing with soap and warm water is the best option. Hand sanitizers can be effective when there is no access to water, and they are most effective if they have at least 60% alcohol in them. Staff is encouraged to provide time and opportunity each day for scholars to practice washing their hands with soap and water upon arrival at school, after coughing and/or sneezing hands, at the beginning of the lunch line before eating, after bathroom use, and after recess.
- Wet hands with water, apply soap, and scrub hands together for at least 20 seconds.
- Thoroughly rinse under warm, running water.
- Dry hands completely with a paper towel. Use a paper towel to turn off faucet handles and open restroom doors. If there are air dryers in the restrooms, rub hands vigorously together under the dryer until completely dry.
- Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette Websites:
Stay Home if You’re Sick
A primary strategy against the spread of illness is for sick people to stay home from school. This includes scholars, staff, and volunteers. In times of suspected or identified infectious disease outbreaks, sick leave policies for staff and scholars will be reviewed, modified (if needed), clearly communicated, and consistently enforced.
Wear Appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
When working with scholars with suspected infectious diseases, staff will wear PPE as recommended by DPH.