The City of Salem School Division has been monitoring the potential spread of COVID-19 for the past few weeks, and like you, we have been processing a great deal of information. The safety of our school children, teachers and parents is always our number one priority. Our Central Office staff and Emergency Management team members from the City of Salem are in on-going contact with the Virginia Department of Health, the Roanoke-Alleghany Health Department and area health professionals. We encourage you to monitor this site for official school division information. This site will be updated whenever there are new details and facts for you. We encourage you to consult with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for specific information about the COVID-19 virus.
COVID 19 Information from Salem City Schools
The local health department (Roanoke-Alleghany Health District) is the lead agency in our community and leaders in the Salem City School Division work closely with health care professionals in our region. In short, educators make educational decisions and health care professionals make medical decisions.
Prevention
Right now, we encourage everyone to be vigilant and faithfully practice proven efforts to prevent the spread of any illness outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
- Wear face coverings in public spaces and anytime physical distancing of at least 6 feet is difficult to maintain.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean your hands! Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
- Practice other good health habits – disinfect surfaces, get sleep, exercise, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
When Talking with your student
- Be calm
- Limit exposure to the news
- Listen to your kids’ fears and concerns
- Talk about concerns in an age-appropriate manner
- Remind them that you and the adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy
- Tell them you love them and give them plenty of assurance and affection
- Keep to a regular schedule as much as possible
- Review basic hygiene
Additional Resources to Better Your Understanding
- National Association of School Psychologists – Talking to Children about COVID 19
- Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia Department of Health
- The VDH currently plans to post COVID-19 updates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- Centers for Disease Control
- CDC Videos
(last updated 7/15/20)