Here’s a letter sent today to James Monroe High School parents:
June 19, 2020
Dear FCPS Families and Staff:
We have been informed that five students of James Monroe High School have reported testing positive for COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019). After a preliminary investigation by the Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD), it has been identified that these individuals attended the graduation ceremony on June 15, 2020 and may have had direct exposure with others in attendance at this event.
We are writing this letter to keep all families informed and to remind them to continue to take precautions and monitor for symptoms.
Though we understand this may cause some uneasiness, the overall risk of exposure to the majority of students and staff at the event is considered low. We are working closely with RAHD to identify anyone who had close contact with the individuals to determine if they might have been exposed to COVID-19.
If you are identified as having been potentially exposed, RAHD will contact you and provide additional instructions. It is recommended that anyone present at this graduation monitor closely for signs of illness, including cough, shortness of breath, or a temperature higher than 100.4F.
Additional symptoms may also include chills, body aches, fatigue, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms, please stay home other than to seek medical care. Additionally, we urge all families to continue to take the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
Practice social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and people outside your household.
Wear a cloth face mask over the mouth and nose to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets
.Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If handwashing is not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover coughs and sneezes with your arm.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
Please contact Fredericksburg City Public Schools at 540-940-8411 or the local health department at 540-899-4797 if you have questions or need additional information. You can also find pertinent information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
or the Virginia Department of Health’s website at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/
.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marceline R. Catlett
Division Superintendent
