Guidance_for_Handling_School_Homework_Packets_FINAL-04.07.2020

Guidance for Handling School Homework Packets With the emergence of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) as a new novel coronavirus, there is evidence to suggest that the virus may live on surfaces for extended periods of time (Kampf, Todt, Pfaender, & Steinmann, 2020; van Doremalen et al., 2020) Schools should consider providing digital homework packets that can be accessed by the students from their computer or tablet If digital homework packets are not an option and paper packets have to be provided to students, the following is recommended for handling school homework packets School staff preparing homework packets • Staff should take the following measures when preparing the packets: o Perform hand hygiene before preparing homework packets Follow the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) guidance for performing hand hygiene o Prepare homework packets on a surface that is clean and can be easily disinfected Clean and disinfect the surface before preparing homework packets Students/parents receiving homework packets • • • • Homework packets received from the school should be opened on surfaces that can easily be cleaned and disinfected (e.g counter tops, table or desk) Avoid touching your face or eating and drinking while handling the homework Handwashing should be performed after handling the homework packets and paperwork Clean and disinfect the surface after handling the homework Staff receiving homework packets from students • • • • • Returned homework packets from students should be handled on a surface that can easily be cleaned and disinfected Avoid touching your face or eating and drinking while handling the homework Perform hand hygiene after handling the homework Clean and disinfect the surface after handling the homework Store students’ homework according to your school's policy References Kampf, G., Todt, D., Pfaender, S., & Steinmann, E (2020) Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents Journal of Hospital Infection, 104, 246-251 doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022 van Doremalen, N., Bushmaker, T., Morris, D H., Holbrook, M G., Gamble, A., Williamson, B et al (2020) Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1 The New England Journal of Medicine doi:10.1056/NEJMc2004973