Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie and
St. Lucie Public Schools Emphasize
Healthy Habits and Staying Home When Sick
As in-person learning at schools resumes, everyone in their households should take steps to stay healthy and protect each other from getting sick. Practice everyday preventive actions, limit interactions with other people, and stay informed on COVID-19 updates. Furthermore, anyone who is sick, MUST stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
How to Protect Your Family and Loved Ones
For many families, back to school planning will look different this year. St. Lucie Public Schools has new policies in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may also be starting the school year with at-home learning. Whatever the situation, these tips are intended to help parents, guardians and caregivers plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.
- Conduct a daily at home health screening PRIOR to sending your child to school. www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/pdf/DailyHomeScreening.pdf.
- Use the School District’s “Let’s Stay Healthy Together” Parent and Student guide as a resource to gain an understanding of the expectations for students and parents. (www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/lets-stay-healthy-together.pdf)
- Children should be advised to do the following:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer comprised of at least 60% alcohol. Make sure you are using a safe product. FDA provides a list of hand sanitizers consumers should not use. Adults should monitor children while they use hand sanitizer.
- Maintain a recommended physical distance from other people, including other students.
- Avoid sharing objects with other students, including water bottles, devices, writing instruments and books.
- Monitor how they feel and tell an adult if they are not feeling well.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Develop daily routines before and after school—for example, things to pack for school in the morning (like hand sanitizer) and things to do when you return home (like washing hands immediately).
- Be familiar with your school’s plan for how they will communicate with families when a positive case or exposure to someone with COVID-19 is identified and ensure student privacy is upheld.
- Persons with CONFIRMED COVID-19 – what should I do?
- Persons with SUSPECTED COVID-19 – what should I do?
- I have been a close contact with someone who has COVID-19 – what should I do?
- When can I be around other people after I had or likely had COVID-19?
Older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19. If your household includes anyone who is at increased risk, then all family members should exercise the appropriate precautions.
People who live in multi-generational households may find it difficult to take precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19 or isolate those who are sick, especially if space is limited. It is important to understand potential risks and how to adopt different types of prevention measures to protect your family and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The CDC recently created guidance for multi-generational households. Although the guidance was developed as part of the CDC’s outreach to tribal communities, the information could be useful for all families, including those with both children and older adults in the same home. You can also contact your local health department for guidance.
Follow Health Department Quarantine Directives
The Department of Health in St. Lucie closely monitors individuals who are under a quarantine directive. Students and staff who are under such directives MUST Not return to work or school until cleared/released from their quarantine by the Health Department in St. Lucie.
Superintendent of Schools, E. Wayne Gent said, “We are ready to welcome our students back into the school centers. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our students and employees. Parents MUST use the Daily Home Screening Tool, every morning, to make sure students are staying home if they have any symptoms that could put others at risk.”
“Equally, the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie continues to stress, the protective measures we have mentioned for months to mitigate and slow the spread of the virus, like washing your hands, practicing social distancing, staying home when you have COVID symptoms and wearing a mask when in close contact with others works, and it is critically important for parents and students to continue to follow these methods for a safe return to school this year.” said Clint Sperber, Health Officer and Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.stluciecountyhealth.com or www.FloridaHealth.gov.
About St. Lucie Public Schools
St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) proudly serves students and boasts a traditional high school graduation rate of 97% percent. As a high-ranking B-rated District, there are no failing schools, and SLPS ranks among the top one-third of Florida’s districts for student achievement. The District also has the distinction of being recognized as one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work. The mission of SLPS is to ensure all students graduate from safe and caring schools equipped with the knowledge, skills and desire to succeed. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or visit http://www.stlucieschools.org.
