Novel Coronavirus 2019 Update

Dear Parents,

I hope your week has started off well.

I want to share with you some information about the school's approach to the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. I am grateful to the CDC and the U.S. Embassy Regional Medical Officer for their guidance in this matter. Their responses have informed the actions I will describe below. While there are currently no confirmed cases of this virus in Africa, all medical authorities are monitoring the situation closely - as are we! 

The guidance that we have received is that there is no reason to make any changes to our operations, which includes this week's ISSEA and AMIS trips.  Furthermore, students and parents who have recently been in China do not need to undergo any special medical precautions. They are welcome at school. The CDC confirmed that there is no scientific agreement on the reports in the news that 2019-nCoV is contagious before it becomes symptomatic, therefore there is no medical reason to quarantine these travelers. 

So far, the school has taken/planned the following actions:

• Gathered information from the CDC, U.S. Embassy Regional Medical Officer, and the heads of the other ISSEA and AMIS schools.
• Based on that information, we notified parents that the ISSEA and AMIS trips will continue as planned.
• Responded to the parents of traveling Chinese students to reassure them that they are welcome to attend school
• Posted information from nurse Jennifer in the upcoming Leopard's Tale and the blog.
• Shared a summary of our infectious disease protocols with the parents at this morning's Parent Coffee Morning. 
• Made plans to reinstall some hand sanitizer stations around campus.

If you wish to learn more, here are informative articles from the CDC and WHO. 

Rest assured that we will be monitoring this situation closely and will respond to any developments accordingly. 
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Thank you.

Russ