EXETER — SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan announces that all SAU 16 school facilities will close for at least two weeks beginning Monday, March 16 as part of the district’s evolving response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The decision was made after significant consideration by district leadership and in consultation with community health partners, Exeter Hospital and Core Physicians. SAU16 will implement remote learning during the building closure to ensure educational continuity during this uncertain time.
At this time, there have been no positive or presumed positive cases of the virus in the SAU 16 school community.
“By closing schools as a precaution, we are protecting students and staff, and doing our part to enact social distancing to assist our local and state public health officials with addressing this global pandemic,” said Superintendent Ryan. “A significant number of our parents travel each day by train to the Boston metropolitan area, and we want to be proactive in reducing any risk of spreading COVID-19 to our students and staff.”
SAU 16 officials have continued to monitor guidance and research from the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
From Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27, SAU 16 schools will close their facilities. Students have been informed of remote learning activities and teachers will be sharing those routinely with students while they are at home.
While students and educators are out of the facilities, custodial staff will conduct a comprehensive and thorough disinfecting and sanitizing effort throughout administrative and school buildings. This effort is in addition to the daily cleaning regimen the district has implemented in recent weeks in light of the virus and as is customary during flu season.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, and can appear between two and 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Anyone who experiences symptoms and believes they may have the virus is advised to contact their health care provider. For more information from the CDC for those who may have the virus, click here.
SAU 16 also wishes to encourage students and staff to follow recommended preventative steps:
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds including under your fingernails. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol content) can be used when soap and water are not available.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing with a tissue and discard it immediately. Cough into the sleeve over your elbow instead of your hand. Wash your hands often when coughing and sneezing.
- Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
For more information, visit the NH DHHS and CDC websites.
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