COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Scientists and doctors are still learning about it.

Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors are trying to learn more so they can help people who get sick.

Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019. You can practice health habits at home, school, and while visiting community areas to help protect against the spread of COVID-19.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

Know how it spreads:
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person: Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Some recent studies

Everyone should: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. Put distance between yourself and people outside of your home. If possible maintain 6 feet between person to person who is sick and other household members. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. Keeping distance from others especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable/surgical mask or a cloth face cover when around others. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities. Cloth face coverings, disposable face masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Cloth face coverings and/or disposable face masks are meant to protect other people in case you are infected. Continue to keep 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering or disposable face mask, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze or use inside your elbow and do not spit. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Then use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. To view the list please visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19

Monitor your health. Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms of COVID-19. This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update their list as we continue to learn more about COVID-19. Take your temperature if symptoms develop. Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen. Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Aside from our restrooms, hand washing stations will be available in the classrooms and designated areas throughout the schools’ campus. Parents may also supply their child with specialized hand sanitizers or wipes that are sensitive to their child’s medical needs.

The cafeteria will be closed off for consumption of meals. Snack time and meals will be consumed in each child’s designated classrooms and will be monitored at all times by their respective teachers. Parents are encouraged to provide pack breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks for their child. SACS will have a specialized vendor providing pre-packaged meals that will be delivered to each classroom during their designated meal times. The student store will be closed for walk-in purchase. Pre-orders can be made through each students designated teacher and be delivered by the SACS student store employees to avoid any traffic, promoting social distancing.

ALL SACS teachers and employees will maintain a clean and sanitized work space and all areas of their classroom. Classrooms and work spaces will be sanitized before, during, and after school using safe, EPA-approved disinfectants.

Yes. It is highly advised to continue to update SACS and the school nurse of any medical concerns or allergies your child may have, so that it can be addressed and the proper measures will be in place to continue to protect the safety and wellness of your child and all others. In addition, if you have questions about the disinfectants that are being utilized on our campus, please contact our front office at 671-647-1140.

As we continue to make adjustments to help control the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you try and communicate as much as possible via phone or e-mail. If you wish to address concerns face-to-face with any SACS teachers or employees, we can schedule for a zoom meeting to assist you and address your concerns. If you request to meet and be present on our campus, we ask that you contact our Front Office at 671-647-1140 or e-mail the respective person so we can make arrangements for your visit. We continue to remind everyone that all individuals are required to adhere to our safety protocols and pre-screening in order to enter into schools’ campus.

SACS would like to work together with our parents to promote safety and education so that we can continue to teach our SACS children to practice healthy habits. We ask that parents continue to remind their children to promote hand hygiene wherever they go. SACS has created several simulation videos to showcase to our students. We also have videos recommended by DPHSS via CDC to address hand hygiene, social distancing, the proper use of face coverings, and promoting a clean and safe environment. These are all available on our website at https://sacsguam.org/. Teachers will also oversee their students, to ensure the proper and effective hand hygiene practices. Here are additional links to access informative information and videos provided from the CDC and Guam DPHSS website: *Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/talking-with-children.html *How does COVID-19 spread? https://youtu.be/WfJSVbQtHsk *COVID-19 Stop the spread of germs https://youtu.be/W-zhhSQDD1U *Coronavirus Prevention and Treatment: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html *What you need to know about handwashing https://youtu.be/d914EnpU4Fo *COVID-19 Educational Resources http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19-educational-resources/

All students, employees, and visitors are required to have a facial mask or facial cloth cover in order to enter into the SACS campus. CDC recommends the use of reusable cloth masks or disposable masks. Masks must be worn at all times. Pre-entry screening includes non-contact temperature check and screening for possible symptoms. Anyone presenting fever or obvious symptoms will not be allowed entry into the campus. All SACS employees, students, contract workers, visitors, and vendors must adhere to the temperature check. We will keep a record of the temperature readings, names, and contact information for all those entering the campus. In the event an individual tests positive for COVID-19, the information will be used solely by the Department of Public Health and Social Services for COVID-19 contact tracing; any individual who was “potentially” exposed will be contacted by Department of Public Health and Social Services with the assistance of Saint Anthony Catholic School.

During these crucial times of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain protocols are in place, to avoid the possible spread of COVID-19 or other illnesses. As an extra precaution, students who are ill are reminded to remain home until they have been cleared by a physician for safe return to school.

The student will be placed in an isolation room. The school nurse will assess and monitor the child and parents will be contacted immediately. It will be highly advised the parent notify their child’s pediatrician/medical provider so they can be screened and the necessary measures will be in place.

If your child has been diagnosed with COVID-19 via their healthcare provider, we ask that your child remain home and you adhere to the directions given by the healthcare provider. The healthcare provider will contact Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services. If you need to reach Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, please dial 311, listen to voice prompt to reach the COVID-19 hotline or contact the following numbers:

480-7859, 480-6760, 480-6763, 480-7883.

If you suspect you or your child/children may have COVID-19, please remain at home until further instructions are given. For medical guidance, please contact your healthcare provider or your child’s health care provider. To contact Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services please dial 311; Listen to the voice recording and follow instructions to reach the COVID-19 hotline or contact the following DPHSS hotline numbers:

480-7859, 480-6760, 480-6763, and 480-7883.

Yes. We ask that you notify the school in advance of any travel outside of Guam for your child and any member in the household. We may ask for a timeline and other questions to rule out the potential risks of COVID-19. Additional screening may include flight information (area of travel), departure and arrival dates to and from Guam, and reporting of any illness and symptoms. We kindly ask you and your child remain home, until you and your child seek medical advice by your healthcare provider.

SACS administration has been practicing infection control and will continue to expand the training for its faculty and staff; they will receive additional COVID-19 safety training by a certified health and safety officer.

Yes. We require face shields and face masks to be worn at all times while on campus. Each student will be provided with 1 face shield free of charge. Parents can purchase additional face shields from our business office. For more information about cost and availability, please contact Ms. Flora Santos with our business office at 647-1143.

Yes. It is mandatory for all students and SACS staff to wear face masks throughout the school day. While on campus, masks can be removed only during consumption of meals and drinks.

Reusable cotton face masks have been recommended by The Centers for Disease Control and the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services as a barrier defense against COVID-19 droplets for non-healthcare individuals (the general public). These masks tend to be more uncomfortable for adults and children. We can recommend the other option CDC and Guam DPHSS has implemented; parents switch their child from a cotton mask to a more durable filtered mask such as surgical masks that are now more readily available now at our local supermarkets and small village stores. They are more lightweight, flexible, and provide adequate protection against droplets when utilized properly.

Yes. To promote a safe learning environment on the campus, we require all staff, teachers, and students to wear face masks and/or face shields, together with the practice of social distancing and hand hygiene to maintain a safe and healthy environment during this COVID pandemic.

No. It is impossible to determine which individuals have COVID-19, unless we had the capability of testing all individuals prior to entering the campus on a daily basis. Unfortunately that is highly impossible to conduct because the tests are not readily available and the school does not have the authority to conduct such testing. However, we want to remind everyone that adhering to our school’s protocols based off the recommendations by The Centers for Disease Control through Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services such as:

1. Social distancing which includes maintaining equal distance from one another, recommended 6 ft. if possible and limiting exposure to family members just within the same household

2. Proper usage and mandatory face masks.

3. Frequent and proper hand hygiene.

4. Sanitizing common areas and frequently used items.

5. Staying home when you’re sick.

6. Reporting the possible exposure to an individual you know who was lab-confirmed COVID-19 Positive (+)

7. Reporting that you, your child, or any other member of your household tested positive for COVID-19.