A Letter from the Superintendent to School Families

Dear Parents/Guardians,
 
As you are likely aware, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) gave a press conference yesterday updating the country on the current status of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and what steps should be taken moving forward. We wanted to share with you some of the steps our school communities are taking to prevent the spread of illness across our campuses.
 
As the CDC emphasized, there is not currently a coronavirus pandemic in the United States. A pandemic occurs when a disease is spreading from a variety of sources across a large region, and the number of cases across the U.S. is still small. However, given how quickly the global situation is evolving, we are monitoring new developments and will continue to reevaluate our steps and actions daily. 
 
In the meantime, the most effective way to stay healthy and minimize the spread of infectious disease is to follow basic health best practices like: 
 

• Enforcing great hygiene, like washing hands thoroughly and covering up coughs/sneezes

• Asking all faculty, staff, and students who are feeling ill to stay home until they recover

 
We are prepared to alter our procedures and planning should the situation change. We are also asking our schools to think ahead regarding the impact of spring travel, upcoming school trips, and other non-typical school activities and how they could be effected in the context of the coronavirus. We will continue to communicate with you as any changes occur.
 
It is important to remember that handling the spread of a serious contagion like the coronavirus is primarily a task for public health agencies. We will continue to monitor and follow the directives of the World Health Organization, CDC, N.J. Department of Health or other local governmental organizations. For the latest available information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
 
As communities across the globe respond to the coronavirus, we stand in solidarity with them and pray for all those affected by the coronavirus and those health workers diligently working to combat the disease.
 
Sincerely,

Dr. Robert A. Lockwood
Superintendent, Diocese of Metuchen