Monday, April 19, 2021
Dear RSU 71 Students, Families, Staff and School Board,
This letter informs you that there is an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Troy Howard Middle School. It is essentially the same letter as was send about the outbreak status at BAHS at the end of March.
An outbreak means that within a school, there have been three or more cases of COVID-19 within 14 days. The school is already closed for April break, so there is no need to shut anything down. All students at THMS may return as planned on Monday, April 26, 2021, at the end of spring break. THMS Principal Bailey and Nurse Mailloux will call individuals needing to quarantine until Friday-- 17 students and five staff members -- today. There is no evidence of transmission in the school itself or any school or site in the district.
Please monitor yourself/your student for signs and symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start. You must call a healthcare facility before you show up in person. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 years and older and in those with underlying conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include:
• fever or chills
• cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• fatigue
• muscle or body aches
• headache
• new loss of taste or smell
• sore throat
• congestion or runny nose
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea.
Please keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students and staff should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations. Maine DOE or a school representative will contact you directly if you are identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive. Close contacts will be asked to quarantine for ten days from the last exposure to the positive individual. A negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine. Maine CDC recommends preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, which is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Questions for the school can be directed to Bruce Bailey and Robyn Mailloux by calling the school or emailing them: bbailey@rsu71.org and rmailluox@rsu71.org.
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For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Many thanks to all members of our community who have worked hard to follow protocols and stay safe. Please continue all efforts at mitigation of this serious and potentially deadly disease. We are getting closer but not yet out of the woods and able to take a break from masks and social distancing.
Sincerely,
Mary Alice McLean
RSU 71 Superintendent of Schools
(207) 338-1960
