The Salt Lake County Health Department has recently seen an increase in influenza cases in area schools. In an effort to be proactive in influenza prevention and care, we are sharing this information from the Health Department.
The most effective approach to protecting your student and our staff is four-pronged:
- Vaccination: We encourage all students and staff to receive a seasonal flu vaccine every year. Vaccinated people who still become ill will have less severe symptoms for a shorter duration than those who are vaccinated and become ill.
- Hand Washing: We encourage everyone to engage in frequent, thorough hand washing. Wash hands regularly including throughout the school day, when you get home from school, after using the restroom, and before meals. Wash with soap and warm water and physically scrub for at least 20 seconds.
- Cleaning: Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practice are sufficient to remove or kill them. Use products that remove and kill germs.
- Stay Home When Ill: We encourage parents to keep ill students home and staff to stay home from school for the duration of their illness. If there is still coughing and sneezing when they return, they should wear a mask and practice good etiquette by coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the inside of the elbow, NOT into their hands or the air.
We appreciate your efforts to minimize the germs and illnesses at school.
Mrs. Monson