Launch the media gallery 1 playerCOVID-19 Pandemic
March 23, 2020 News Release... (Beatrice Daily Sun)
After discussions among area schools, the Nebraska health department and state and local officials, all ESU 5 schools have decided to close through Friday, May 1 due to COVID-19 concerns. This includes Beatrice, Bruning-Davenport, Deshler, Diller-Odell, Fairbury, Freeman, Meridian, Southern, Thayer Central, Tri County and Wymore schools, who all closed their doors on Tuesday, March 17.
BPS released a statement Monday that the decision will be re-evaluated as circumstances change, and that an announcement will be made on April 22 regarding the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
“This is a precautionary public health measure; local health and school officials are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Southeast Nebraska closely,” the statement said. “School Superintendents met with Public Health Solutions and determined that this action would help prevent exposure to our area to flatten the curve and decrease the spread of disease. Continue the learning process through the materials and resources provided by your teachers.”
Meridian Public Schools is calling with important information regarding classes.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Meridian Public Schools will be closed to students March 18, 2020 through March 31, 2020. This decision has been reached after much discussion and deliberation with state and local authorities. We currently plan to resume school on Wednesday, April 1st but may need to extend that closure, based on the recommendations from health officials.
As always, our first priority is the safety and well-being of our students. We will continue to keep you informed should we need to extend the school closure. I have confidence that we have the best team in place to face this unprecedented challenge together.
This will include no activities, field trips, track practice, show choir.
Prom has been postponed until May 9th.
Tuesday March 17th will be used to have teachers confer with students throughout their classes and have students take home any materials, books and computers if there would be an extended closure.
The following is new information given to us from our school nurse 3/19/20
Given the consequences of widespread transmission, public health authorities nationally are broadening the range of clinical syndromes warranting self-isolation:
• Temperature ≥100.4°F
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAVELERS
• All returning travelers, from any international or domestic location, have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection.
• All returning travelers, from any international or domestic location, should limit public interactions, practice strict social distancing, and self-monitor for symptoms.
• IF a returning traveler develops fever or respiratory illness, they need to IMMEDIATELY self-isolate and report to a healthcare provider or local health department.
• Returning travelers should assume that COVID-19 disease is present at the locations they have visited and traveled through. Additional specific information might available on CDC, state, and local public health websites and from media sources.
• More jurisdictions have widespread sustained transmission (e.g., CDC Level 3 countries - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices#alert - plus U.S. locales such as Seattle, WA; New York City; and Santa Clara County, CA).
• To limit spread in Nebraska, all travelers should self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning home and immediately report any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection to their health care provider. Individuals unable to observe the 14-day selfquarantine should consult with their local health department about appropriate actions.
• Every health care worker who returns from travel should consult with a trained medical professional at their facility (e.g., infection preventionist or physician) and establish a specific infection control protocol (e.g., home quarantine, self-monitoring, PPE while at work) that mitigates patient and co-worker exposures.
WHEN TO DISCONTINUE SELF-ISOLATION
Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms and who are directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue home isolation under the following conditions:
• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and,
• At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
