FFCSD board of directors receive update from public health nurse

FAIRFIELD - Public Health nurse Chris Estle and Jefferson County Health Center assistant outpatient director Staci Worley addressed the Fairfield Community School District's board of directors and answered questions concerning the coronavirus on Monday evening.

At the meeting, Estle confirmed to the board there were currently no cases in Jefferson County, however it would 'only be a matter of time,” before the virus reaches the county.

'Instead of focusing on zero as the number, we need to focus on how to mitigate that and what we can do to keep our community as safe and as healthy as possible,” Estle said.

Estle added it would need to be a community effort to try to control a potential outbreak and closing schools was an important step to ensuring social distancing, one of several precautions recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

'We're trying to be in an offense mode rather than a defense. I can't stress enough how important it is that everyone helps us, as health care professionals,” Estle added, explaining the county's goal is to be proactive and take preventive measures to mitigate spread rather than having to react to a large outbreak.

Board members posed questions about child care and how best to protect children from the virus.

'Really try to keep children at home,” Worley said. She also added that for parents who need to work and are sending children to day care centers to make sure to not to send children who have symptoms such as a fever or cough.

'This really isn't just about us. It's about everyone,” Worley added.

FFCSD notified families it would be shutting down until at least April 13. At the meeting on Monday evening, superintendent Laurie Noll added the district's administration team would be holding meetings to determine the best course of action moving forward and would release information as it becomes available.