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School principal who traveled to Italy staying home due to Coronavirus concerns

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ROCHESTER - City Manager Blaine Cox and Superintendent Kyle Repucci released a joint communique on Thursday to share information and inform residents about the city's ongoing efforts to stay current with coronavirus concerns.

On the home front, it was announced that a Rochester school principal has volunteered to work from home over the coming days after recently traveling to Italy. The decision comes after an update to the CDC's traveling guidelines Tuesday night, which advised travelers returning to the United States from any country with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice to stay home for 14 days after their departure from that region and practice social distancing.

Neither the City of Rochester nor Rochester Public Schools believe there is any cause for concern for the community. The principal has decided to work from home out of an abundance of caution and is presenting no symptoms of the virus.

"We do not believe there is any cause for concern for our students, parents, guardians or staff, and would like to thank this district employee for volunteering to work from home in light of a recent update to the CDC's traveling guidelines," Repucci said. "Our district will support any employee or student who, after traveling to a country affected by COVID-19, wishes to stay home and monitor their health, as is being advised by the CDC at this time."

Rochester Schools will support and assist any students or staff who choose to stay home if they have traveled within the last 14 days to one of the above affected countries, and students will not be penalized for those absenses. The district will also make remote instructional options available through technology such as Google Classroom and Skype, school officials noted.

The city is also taking an active role in disseminating information on the coronavirus, known officially as COVID-19.

"The risk of contracting the virus remains low, so we're encouraging residents to continue business as usual and take the same hygienic steps we always share during the flu season," City Manager Cox said. "These simple steps can make a big difference in preventing the spread of any communicable sickness."

City officials also urged residents not to flush any wipes, including baby wipes, disposable wipes and disinfectant wipes down the toilet.

"These wipes can clog the pipes and give our collections system and treatment plant process problems and tax our resources, which can come at a cost to you, our taxpayer, in the long run," officials said.

Currently there are two cases of coronavirus that are 'presumptive positive' in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

However, the CDC is also reporting that the immediate health risk of the virus to the general American public remains low. There are no cases of the virus confirmed in Rochester or Strafford counties.

The City of Rochester and Rochester School Officials have been working closely together to prepare should the virus affect the City, and have plans in place to protect and support residents. Rochester school officials also participated in a conference call with the New Hampshire Health and Human Services Department about COVID-19 on Thursday yesterday.

As with every flu season, the school district is additionally continuing to thoroughly clean and disinfect each school facility.

Parents and guardians are reminded that, in an effort to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the flu, respiratory viruses and gastrointestinal illnesses, students need to be free from fever, vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school if they have been sick, and are advised to stay home and not go to school if they are presenting any of those symptoms.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

In an effort to prevent the spread of flu, colds and other respiratory illnesses, residents should follow the recommended actions from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services:

For a minimum of 20 seconds, wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands

Avoid close contact with those who are sick

Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces

When you have a fever or are ill, stay home from work or school

Anyone who is experiencing a fever and respiratory illness and is concerned they have either come into contact with the virus or traveled to an affected country within the last 14 days is advised to contact their primary health care provider.

For more information, visit the NH DHHS website by clicking here and the CDC's website by clicking here. Parents are also encouraged to use this resource to learn more about how to talk to their children about the Coronavirus situation.

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