Salem Schools Step Up Efforts To Fight Coronavirus, Flu

SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools will begin using two new handheld electrostatic disinfectant sprayers next week and start disinfecting school buses to fight the spread of coronavirus and flu.

"We want to remind everyone that we are in the midst of a difficult flu season," the school system said in a note to parents. "We want to reinforce the message of good hygiene and hand washing as well as staying home if you are sick, especially if your symptoms include a fever."

Earlier this year, Salem Public Schools stepped up its disinfecting program in all of its buildings. The new program includes manually disinfecting the high touch surfaces, including handrails, faucets and doorknobs. The school system has also provided extra hand sanitizer to all schools and confirmed that all bathrooms have working soap dispensers.

"The precautionary protocols are the same for influenza as they are for COVID-19," the school system said. "As with any public health matter, we take our guidance from state and federal agencies, in particular the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)."

The Massachusetts Department of Health said Wednesday 231 people who may have been exposed to coronavirus are being monitored and self-quarantined in their homes. So far there has been one confirmed case of coronavirus in the state. The UMass-Boston student, who contracted the illness after returning last month from Wuhan, China, has been quarantined at his home.

There have been more than 80,000 cases of coronavirus across the globe, with nearly 3,000 deaths. There have been 14 confirmed cases in the U.S. and no fatalities. Thirty-nine more people returning from overseas have also had the virus.