Pacific Grove Unified School District
Earlier this afternoon, we were notified that a student attending school via in-person instruction at Robert Down was diagnosed with COVID-19. The family is taking the necessary precautions to keep the student home and is in regular communication with me. The student wore their mask while in attendance and only removed it during snack and lunch for a limited time within their designated eating area. In addition, I conducted follow-up communication with the Monterey County Health Department for reporting and guidance. All families whose children are in the same class as the student diagnosed with COVID-19 have been notified separately.
In following our PGUSD COVID-19 safety plan, the following measures will be implemented beginning Tuesday, April 27th for the classroom of the student diagnosed with COVID-19:
● The student’s classroom will be closed to in-person instruction for an anticipated 14 days
at which time the students in that class will receive their school instruction via distance learning. All other Robert Down classrooms may remain open for in-person instruction.
● All students and staff attending in-person instruction in that classroom should quarantine for an anticipated 14 days but may individually discontinue quarantine after day 10 if symptom-free.
● All students and household family members should be monitored for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 illness which include: temperature 100.4 or above, headache, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath (not related to ongoing medical condition such as asthma or allergies), body aches, loss of taste and/or smell, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue more than usual.
If any household members display the above symptoms, COVID-19 testing would be recommended.
PGUSD provides walk-in COVID-19 testing every Monday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm in our district office large conference room. In addition, Seaside High School provides free COVID-19 testing Thursdays through Mondays from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm (No testing between 12:00-12:30 and 5:00-5:30 for meal breaks). Link information to access the testing is found below.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff are a top priority. We will continue to follow all guidelines as directed by the California Department of Public Health and the CDC. We will stay in contact and provide information to you in a timely manner as is necessary.
Out of an abundance of caution please take the time to review the information on the next page regarding COVID-19, how it is spread, and how best to protect yourself and others.
Some general guidelines for you and working at school:
● During this time of increased COVID-19 spread, it is very important that we all do our part to keep everyone safe.
● If you have any symptoms (see below) and can work from home please do so.
● If you can not work from home I suggest you call in sick until you are symptom-free.
● In your workspace at school keep windows and doors open as much as possible.
● Limit contact with others on campus.
● Minimize areas on campus that you have to access.
● Maintain six feet of distance when at all possible.
● Always wear a mask properly.
● Contact your site administration if you become ill or have questions or concerns.
Provided for you below is information about COVID-19, how it is spread, and how you can best protect yourself and others from contracting the disease.
COVID-19 testing, Seaside High School is offering free evaluation at 2200 Noche Buena Street in room S1 Thursdays-Mondays from 8:00 A.M.- 8:00 P.M. Testing is by appointment only or walk-in as times are available. Testing staff lunch is 12:00 pm- 12:30 pm and 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm – LINK for more information.
Information about this disease:
1. Per the Centers for Disease Control, the disease is spread by:
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
● Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet for 15
minutes or longer).
● Respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
● These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
● COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
The virus spreads easily between people.
How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious, like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, which means it goes from person-to-person without stopping.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading very easily and sustainably between people.
Information from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic suggests that this virus is spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles, which is highly contagious. In general, the more closely a person interacts with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.
The virus may be spread in other ways.
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about how this virus spreads.
2. Symptoms of COVID-19: People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include the following:
● Fever or chills
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
3. COVID-19 can be prevented by:
● Washing hands often
● Avoiding close contact
● Covering mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
● Covering coughs and sneezes
● Cleaning disinfecting frequently touched surface daily
● Monitoring your health daily
4. What we are doing:
● Disinfecting all classrooms and other frequently-touched areas.
● Notifying families of any student or staff who has come in contact or tests positive for COVID-19 and provide information about the disease.
● Continue to practice proper handwashing several times per day.
● Continue to practice social distancing and wearing face coverings.
5. What you can do at home:
● Practice routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces
● Wash hands often; use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty
● For a person who is sick:
○ Keep separate bedroom and bathroom
○ Eat (or be fed) in their room if possible
○ Dedicate a lined trash can for the person who is sick, if possible
If you have any symptoms of this COVID-19, call your doctor to find out what to do. Be sure to tell your doctor about this notice. If you do not have a regular doctor contact your local health department for instructions on how to find a doctor.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you very much,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katrina Powley, RN, BSN, CSN
District School Nurse
Pacific Grove Unified School District
Google Voice: (831) 275-5396
Email: kpowley@pgusd.org
