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School, Community Resources and Health Reminders As Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Rise in Michigan

  • Georgette CR Johnson, Executive Editor

More than 50 of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have been confirmed in Michigan with more expected. At this point, the best option is to update resources and information needed to make life as comfortable as possible during these times. Below please find information, resources and links to assist in making the day to day as easy as possible.

Before heading out to the stores, please check hours as stores such as Walmart and Kroger are limiting hours in order to keep stores stocked to accommodate workers and customers. Various restaurants are closed or limiting hours and number of customers. Also check before heading out.

www.cdc.org

www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

For your convenience, please find information and resources from the Detroit Public Schools Community District website and a reminder of health and personal hygiene protocol.

As information around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) develops, DPSCD information below will be updated for families, parents, students and staff.

Grab-n-Go Breakfast & Lunch  |  Academic Packets & Online Learning  |  COVID-19 Letters, Statements & Press Releases  |  COVID-19 Prevention & Resources

If you or somebody you know is experiencing fever, cough, or shortness of breath, with possible exposure to someone who has traveled or potentially been exposed to COVID19, please seek immediate medial help and contact the Detroit Health Department for guidance at 313-876-4000.

Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

  • Per notification from local health department officials, the following are confirmed COVID-19 cases within Detroit Public Schools Community District:
Date School Name Number  – Type
 3/14/2020  Osborn High School 1      – Staff
  • DPSCD’s communication protocol regarding confirmed cases will include listing each instance above, direct notification to the school or central office department staff via email, and a follow up robocall/text to the location’s staff and families. All direct notifications will be listed in the COVID-19 Letters, Statements & Press Releasessection below. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
  • Breakfast/Lunch and Academic Packet Pick-Up Locations
  • Breakfast and lunch and Academic Packets will be available starting Wednesday, March 18 at 58 DPSCD buildings. Students will not be allowed to enter the building
    • A “grab-and-go” breakfast will be served, Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
    • A “grab-and-go” lunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Academic K-8 learning packets with a focus on Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science and Social Studies can be picked-up at the same 58 school locations listed below.

All school locations listed below are linked to Google Maps for school address and locations.

Instruction During COVID-19 Closure

  • As the District is closed in response to COVID-19, we are committed to continuing to support your students’ learning. The District offers a number of ways for students to engage in learning even while they are away from school.

The recommended activities below will not take the place of regular classroom instruction but will supplement student learning at home. Assignments will not be required or graded. These activities are meant to provide optional opportunities for student learning while they are absent from school.  We encourage families to continue student learning at home.

DOWNLOAD ACADEMIC PACKETS HERE: At-Home Activity Packs 

  • At-Home Activity Packs– Independent practice for K-8 Mathematics and Literacy.  These can be printed for students to complete at home and include a Parent Guide for Mathematics. These packets will also be available for pick-up at the same schools providing Grab-n-Go breakfast and lunch.

ONLINE LEARNING:

  • Khan Academy – Independent practice and guided learning for: K-12 Mathematics and Literacy; 9-12 Science and Social Studies, AP, and SAT
  • MyOn – Large library of online books with built-in reading supports.
  • i-Ready – Independent practice for K-8 Mathematics and Literacy.
  • Newsela – News and events articles at a range of reading levels.

Accessing Online Resources

Many of these online learning applications are available through Clever. For more information about logging in to Clever, please see the Clever Login Instructions. For additional information about the District’s online learning resources please see the Online Learning page.

Consider setting a schedule for your student

We recommend providing structure for your student. At school, students get used to their days following a certain structure. Communicating to your child that they will have a structure to follow for the next several weeks will set expectations and set everyone up to make the most out of this period of time.

Click here to access sample schedules:

K-2 Students

Homework Hotline

Due to the COVID-19 3-week closure, the District is offering hours during the day for our Homework Hotline.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – Friday, April 3, 2020 the hours will be as follows:

  • Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Contact The Hotline: call 1-833-466-3978 during operating hours

In accordance with MDE guidance and requirements for students with IEPs, DPSCD will have ESE (certified Special Education Teachers) available via the Homework Hotline.

Students: Learn about the Coronavirus

Click below to learn more about the science behind the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how viruses spread

K-5 Resources

6-12 Resources

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:

These recommended strategies apply at the individual, organizational, and community levels. They apply to businesses, workplaces, schools, community organizations, health care institutions, and individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and health profiles. Everyone has some measure of responsibility to help limit the spread of this disease. Even individuals who are healthy can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.

Residents have been preparing for COVID-19 for weeks, and all individuals should continue to take the following basic personal-hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the virus:

  • wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer;
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands;
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing;
  • avoid handshakes;
  • avoid contact with sick people who are sick; and
  • stay home when you are sick.

Michigan must take further action, however. To help avoid a rapid increase of cases in the state, MDHHS recommends implementing now the following community mitigation strategies.

Individuals and families at home:

  1. Learn about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
  2. If you have respiratory symptoms, STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK. Call your health care provider’s office in advance of your visit.
  3. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  4. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
  5. Be prepared if there is COVID-19 in your household or a disruption of daily activities in your community. For example, maintain a supply of medications, food, and other essentials in your house. Consider alternative shopping options such as curbside pickups or online deliveries.
  6. Access services as much as possible online or by phone.

Individuals at risk of severe illness:

These individuals include, but are not limited to, older adults and persons of any age with underlying medical conditions, such as persons with a blood disorder (e.g., sickle cell disease or a disorder being treated with blood thinners), an endocrine disorder (e.g., diabetes mellitus), or a metabolic disorder (such as inborn error of metabolism); those with heart disease, lung disease (including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic kidney disease, or chronic liver disease; those with a compromised immune system (e.g., those who are receiving treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant, who are taking high doses of immunosuppressant, or who have HIV or AIDS); those who are currently pregnant or were pregnant in the last two weeks; and those with neurological or neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions.

  1. Individuals at risk of severe illness should stay at home and keep away from others who are sick, except in exceptional circumstances. Wash your hands often, particularly after contact with high-touch surfaces. Avoid crowds and closed-in settings with little air ventilation as much as possible. Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
  2. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  3. In households with individuals at risk of severe illness, provide a protected space for those individuals and have healthy people conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to those individuals. For example, healthy people should wash their hands before feeding or caring for an at-risk individual.
  4. Have a plan for if you get sick, and stay in touch with others by phone or email.
  5. Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention.
  6. Family members and caregivers can support older adults by knowing what medications they are taking and ensuring there is an extra supply on hand.
  7. Family members and caregivers can support older adults by monitoring food and other necessary medical supplies (e.g., oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, and wound care supplies) and by creating a back-up plan for securing those essentials if they run out.

Assisted living facilities, adult day care programs, and senior living facilities:

  1. Encourage personal protective measures among residents, clients, and staff, including handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes.
  2. Encourage residents, clients, and staff to stay home (or in their private quarters) when sick and to notify program administrators of illness.
  3. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  4. Ensure hand hygiene supplies are readily accessible throughout the facility.
  5. If caring for an individual living in a care facility, monitor the situation, ask about the health of the other residents frequently, and know the protocol if there is an outbreak.
  6. Implement social distancing measures as feasible, such as reducing large gatherings, altering meal schedules to reduce mixing, and limiting programs with external staff.
  7. Limit visitors to only those who are absolutely necessary and implement screening of visitors for temperature and respiratory symptoms.
  8. Maintain contact with individuals at risk of severe illness who are no longer able to attend day care programs.

Universities and colleges:

  1. Educate students and the community about COVID-19 and preventative hygiene practices.
  2. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  3. Encourage staff and students to stay home when sick.
  4. Cancel or postpone large gatherings, conferences, and sporting events (e.g., greater than 100 people in a shared space).
  5. Consider tele-learning opportunities, as feasible.
  6. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
  7. Students and faculty at risk of severe illness should implement plans for distance learning.

Schools and childcare facilities:

  1. Educate students and the community about COVID-19 and preventative hygiene practices.
  2. Encourage staff and students to stay home when sick.
  3. Report influenza-like activity, absenteeism, and potential school dismissals to public health officials.
  4. Separate sick students and staff from others until they can go home. When feasible, identify a “sick room” through which others do not regularly pass.
  5. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
  6. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  7. Consider having students eat meals in their classrooms as opposed to a cafeteria-like setting, or alter meal schedules for smaller-group gatherings.
  8. Limit large gatherings such as assemblies and limit inter-school interactions.
  9. Alter schedules for recess and entry/dismissal to reduce the mixing of large numbers of students and staff.
  • Schools with students at risk of severe illness should consider implementing plans for distance learning for those students, to the extent feasible.

Workplaces:

  1. Encourage employees to stay home when sick and to notify supervisors of illness.
  2. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands covering coughs and sneezes.
  3. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  4. Ensure hand hygiene supplies are readily accessible throughout the workplace.
  5. Encourage staff to tele-work when feasible, particularly individuals at risk of severe illness.
  6. Implement social distancing measures as feasible, including limiting in-person meetings.
  7. Limit large work-related gatherings (e.g., staff meetings and after-work functions).
  8. Limit non-essential work travel.
  9. Cancel or postpone large gatherings, conferences, and sporting events (e.g., greater than 100 people in a shared space).
  • Discourage employees from eating meals in a large group setting, such as a cafeteria.
  • Tailor continuity of operation plans to the COVID-19 threat.

Community and faith-based organizations:

  1. Identify safe ways to serve those who are at high risk or vulnerable through outreach and assistance.
  2. Encourage staff and members to stay home when sick and to notify the organization of illness.
  3. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.
  4. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
  5. Ensure hand hygiene supplies are readily accessible.
  6. Implement social distancing measures as feasible.
  7. Reduce in-person gatherings and activities, especially for organizations with individuals at risk of severe illness. Consider offering video or audio of events.
  8. Determine ways to continue providing support services to individuals at risk of severe illness while limiting group settings and exposures.
  9. Avoid large gatherings (e.g., greater than 100 people in a shared space) or move to smaller and staggered gatherings.
  • For organizations that serve high-risk communities, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.

Other mass events:

  1. Cancel or postpone large gatherings, conferences, and sporting events (e.g., greater than 100 people in a shared space).
  2. Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, and light switches.
  3. Communicate and reinforce best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.

 

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Georgette CR Johnson, Executive Editor

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