The Pittsburgh Public Schools district is working with the Allegheny County Health Department to develop an action plan in the event that a case of coronavirus is confirmed in the county.
Ebony Pugh, the district’s spokesperson, said on Tuesday that a version of that plan will be made public once it is vetted and approved. Though, she said she couldn’t confirm when that would happen.
The state’s second largest school district issued guidance to families in a letter Friday. The letter asked parents and guardians to follow their pediatrician’s orders and to keep their child home if they are sick.
“This includes if your child has a fever, is vomiting, or has diarrhea. Keeping your sick child home will be a great benefit to them and for the health and wellness of all students and staff,” the letter reads.
The letter notes that there have not been any confirmed cases of coronavirus or COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in Pennsylvania and that risk is based on exposure.
“However, we are in the middle of flu and respiratory disease season, and most of the population is at greater risk of contracting seasonal influenza than the Coronavirus,” the letter states.
In a related robocall from the district, PPS Superintendent Anthony Hamlet told families that the Allegheny County Health Department recommends students take the same precautions they do during flu season.
More information from the district can be found here.
The Department of Education recommends that schools follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s steps to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19.
