CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Public School system has sent letters home to parents letting them know it is preparing for the possibility of staffers or students getting the coronavirus.
Right now, CPS said based on the recommendation of local health officials it is not considering closing schools because of the coronavirus. The school system tells parents the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus to to thoroughly wash hands.
It is urging people not to discriminate against or stigmatize anyone who might contract it. CPS said that would end up discouraging people from reporting symptoms and cause a greater spread of the virus.
Schools will not be going under any special cleaning, but CPS is buying more hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes, and hopes to get those materials into schools as soon as possible.
CPS urges any staffer or student who travels to an area who has had a coronavirus outbreak to remain home 14 days after their trip.
Along those same lines, the school system is discouraging schools from having perfect attendance contests.
The head of Chicago's Department of Public Health said Wednesday the city is prepared to close schools if needed, at some point.
"It is possible that at some point in the future -- not tomorrow, not next week, if we needed to be thinking about potentially not having some schools open in a short-term kind of way -- that would be something we might consider doing," she said.
