Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

CCS And Other School Districts Wait For Health Department Lead

There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in central Ohio, but the school districts in the region are following state and local health departments closely.  

Dr. Kate King, director of Health, Family and Community services for Columbus City Schools says the district has had a pandemic plan in place  since the swine flu scare of 2008, but they rely on the Columbus Health Department to make the call on next steps.  King says closing schools may pose more of a risk for students than the virus. 

"This virus is not a high-risk virus for school children.  Most of the time school children, or children who are getting it, have a very mild case. So, we're not seeing serious illness in children right now.

We always consider, any time schools close, whether our kids wil be able to eat.  And what kind of education our children could get."

The district says "there is already an expectation" that custodians wipe down all surfaces with a hospital-grade disinfectant.  And they point parents, teachers and staff to CDC prevention recommendations.
 
 

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
Related Content