November 16, 2020
Dear Coos Bay Schools Community,
Recently, we were notified about a few positive cases of COVID-19; a person at Madison, a person at the District Office, and a bus driver are being monitored as positive cases. Coos Health and Wellness has worked with the District to identify potential exposures. In accordance with Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority guidelines, Coos Health and Wellness has contacted those who may have been exposed and asked them to stay home and quarantine for the appropriate amount of time. I want to assure you that none of these cases are connected. We have not had any cases of spread within our schools and our protocols have worked as planned to isolate the cases and not contribute to the spread. At this time, we want to respect the privacy of those affected and we will not be providing any specific details. As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns alongside a caring response. We are working closely with Coos Health and Wellness to respond to this news and protect the health of our students, staff, and community.
Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case, we will follow the following steps:
- Work with Coos Health and Wellness to contact trace who may have been exposed.
- Require all individuals who were potentially exposed to quarantine at home for the required amount of days determined by Coos Health and Wellness. Exposed individuals or cohorts will be temporarily moved to Comprehensive Distance Learning.
- Deep clean and sanitize the areas of possible exposure within the school.
- Continuing to practice the Oregon Health Authority guidelines for reducing the spread of COVID-19.
The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through staying home when ill, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, and practicing good health hygiene habits. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with people who have signs of illness. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. These safe practices have allowed us to continue to slow the spread in our community and keep our schools open for those students we’re allowed to have in-person.
We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone's right to privacy.
More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page, the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 page and Coos Health and Wellness COVID-19 page.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy,
Bryan Trendell
Coos Bay Public Schools
Superintendent