Do I or my family need to stay home if we traveled?
Because of the concern of asymptomatic transmission, especially from travelers who returned from Hubei province, we are now asking schools to do the following:
If you returned after February 2:
If you have students or staff who have been in Hubei province within the last 14 days, please ask them to immediately return home and call the public health department during regular business hours (408-885-3980, Monday through Friday, from 8am-5pm) so that we can provide guidance on monitoring themselves carefully for symptoms for the 14 days since their last day in China.
a. Family members of travelers who visited Hubei province within the last 14 days do not need to quarantine at home, but they should also monitor for symptoms and avoid attending large gatherings.
Students or staff who have been to other areas of mainland China (this excludes Hong Kong) within the last 14 days should also not come to school.
They should monitor themselves for symptoms for the 14 days since their last day in China. Per federal guidance being released today, they should also call the public health department during regular business hours (408-885-3980, Monday through Friday, from 8am-5pm) for further guidance.
If you returned before February 2:
For students and staff who came back to the U.S. before February 2, they may wish to consider staying home for 14 days after they left mainland China, but it is not mandatory, and they should continue monitoring themselves for symptoms until the end of the 14 days. Please note that mainland China does not include Hong Kong.
Is my family at risk of getting novel coronavirus?
Please know that there is currently no evidence to suggest that novel coronavirus is circulating in our community. So the risk to the public is still low.
While spread from a person who does not yet have symptoms (asymptomatic transmission) to others has been documented, we do not know how often or easily this happens. Since is currently no evidence that the virus is spreading in our community, the risk to Santa Clara County residents remains low.
It is important that everyone take preventative measures to help decrease the spread of the flu and other viruses that are in our community. Stay away from people who have signs of a respiratory tract infection, such as runny nose, coughing, and sneezing, and try to avoid gatherings with lots of people.
When should I keep my child home from school?
If anyone is ill with fever, cough or other symptoms, they should stay home from work or school and other public activities until at least 24 hours after they have recovered.
Should children whose parents traveled to China stay home from school?
If a child has not traveled to mainland China (this does not include Hong Kong), and they are not ill, they can continue their everyday activities. But if a child is ill, they should be kept home.
Can a school send a student home if they recently returned from China and have cold-like symptoms?
Any student with a fever or respiratory symptoms can be sent home by the school.
What should I do now to protect my family?
- Wash your hands with liquid soap and water, rub for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, sleeve or arm. Do not use your hands.
- Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home if you are sick with any respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and are feeling tired.
- Try staying away from large groups of people.
- CDC recommends against traveling to China.