Mellie
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I don't have a clue where this would go. Please move it if that's best...
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12256197?source=rss
Bay Area health officials discuss possibility of school closings due to swine flu; California superintendent says schools are safe
By Mercury News
Posted: 04/29/2009 03:21:58 PM PDT
Updated: 04/29/2009 04:21:28 PM PDT
Although several California schools have closed due to probable cases of swine flu among students, the state schools superintendent said there are no plans to close campuses statewide due to the outbreak.
"We are not going to close every school in the state," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, pointing out that there have been only a few confirmed swine flu cases in a state that has 9,000 schools. "Our schools today are safe."
O'Connell's comments came on the same day that Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County's top public health officer, said Bay Area public health officials may not be able to limit the spread of swine flu by closing just one school, and have been discussing under what circumstances they may need to close all campuses in the Bay Area.
"At this point, all of us in the Bay Area have been looking at this and talking about the question. We have not made any decision,'' Fenstersheib said. "We have decided that at this point, it is not appropriate to close the entire school system, and we would certainly want to do something regionally.
"As the regional group of health officials, we have decided at this point, at least, not to. We are taking it on an individual basis. Everything we are doing is to limit the spread of disease. If we have to close another school we will, but we have not made a decision as far as total closure at this point."
Officials in the Campbell Union High School
District have closed Branham High School in San Jose after one student was reported to have a probable case of swine flu. The school will be closed until May 6.
And in Contra Costa County, Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Ovick said that while his district was looking at closing a second school in Pittsburg, Marina Vista Elementary, due to the flu outbreak, there were no plans to close all district schools.
The district is taking the issue on a case-by-case basis, he said. "Bottom line for me is if a child is healthy, they should be going to school," Ovick said.
Contra Costa closed Highlands Elementary on Tuesday night after three probable cases of swine flu were identified.
"We're not quarantining all these children in the house,'' Fenstersheib said. "What we're trying to do is limit their being in a school, where spread is so much easier than anywhere. The density within a school is higher than any type of gathering, the workplace, or even in your household. So, just by closing the school and getting them out of that very close situation, will do a lot to limit the spread.
At O'Connell's news conference, Assembly Member Tom Torlakson said he has introduced a bill to provide funding to schools that are shut down due to the closure.
Kimberly S. Wetzel of the Bay Area News Group contributed to this report.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12256197?source=rss
Bay Area health officials discuss possibility of school closings due to swine flu; California superintendent says schools are safe
By Mercury News
Posted: 04/29/2009 03:21:58 PM PDT
Updated: 04/29/2009 04:21:28 PM PDT
Although several California schools have closed due to probable cases of swine flu among students, the state schools superintendent said there are no plans to close campuses statewide due to the outbreak.
"We are not going to close every school in the state," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, pointing out that there have been only a few confirmed swine flu cases in a state that has 9,000 schools. "Our schools today are safe."
O'Connell's comments came on the same day that Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County's top public health officer, said Bay Area public health officials may not be able to limit the spread of swine flu by closing just one school, and have been discussing under what circumstances they may need to close all campuses in the Bay Area.
"At this point, all of us in the Bay Area have been looking at this and talking about the question. We have not made any decision,'' Fenstersheib said. "We have decided that at this point, it is not appropriate to close the entire school system, and we would certainly want to do something regionally.
"As the regional group of health officials, we have decided at this point, at least, not to. We are taking it on an individual basis. Everything we are doing is to limit the spread of disease. If we have to close another school we will, but we have not made a decision as far as total closure at this point."
Officials in the Campbell Union High School
District have closed Branham High School in San Jose after one student was reported to have a probable case of swine flu. The school will be closed until May 6.
And in Contra Costa County, Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Ovick said that while his district was looking at closing a second school in Pittsburg, Marina Vista Elementary, due to the flu outbreak, there were no plans to close all district schools.
The district is taking the issue on a case-by-case basis, he said. "Bottom line for me is if a child is healthy, they should be going to school," Ovick said.
Contra Costa closed Highlands Elementary on Tuesday night after three probable cases of swine flu were identified.
"We're not quarantining all these children in the house,'' Fenstersheib said. "What we're trying to do is limit their being in a school, where spread is so much easier than anywhere. The density within a school is higher than any type of gathering, the workplace, or even in your household. So, just by closing the school and getting them out of that very close situation, will do a lot to limit the spread.
At O'Connell's news conference, Assembly Member Tom Torlakson said he has introduced a bill to provide funding to schools that are shut down due to the closure.
Kimberly S. Wetzel of the Bay Area News Group contributed to this report.