Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. It is transmitted by breathing in respiratory droplets or having small droplets containing the virus land on the nose, eyes, or mouth. It can be also be transmitted though splashes and sprays like coughing or sneezing or by touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them. Symptoms can vary from asymptomatic to critical disease. Common symptoms are 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. 

Allen ISD follows the guidance and expertise of national, state, and local health officials to help protect students and staff from all communicable diseases. Families are encouraged to visit the Texas Department of States Health Services or the CDC website for more information and travel guidance regarding COVID-19.

AISD Health Services closely monitors all developments and will continue to be in communication with our state and local partners and stand ready to take all appropriate measures.

Our campus custodial staff will also continue to disinfect campuses each day with products that help offset the spread of communicable illnesses, but it takes all of us to ensure healthy school environments. 

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION

The District takes the following measures to ensure a safe learning environment for all students and staff:

• Continuously educate students, staff, and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when ill; and other measures to prevent the spread of all communicable diseases;
• Routinely disinfect campuses;
• Monitor students for symptoms and refer students to the school nurse for assessment as appropriate;
• School nurses exclude students from school attendance according to Department of State Health Services Guidelines; and  
• Work with Collin County Health and Human Services' Epidemiology Branch for any suspected case of a "Reportable Condition." 

Parents and guardians can help to keep their children, our schools, and community healthy by:

• Observing their child for signs of infection that may include coughing, colds, fever, itching on the skin, and unusual rashes;
• Keeping sick students at home and seeking medical attention for severe illness;
• Reinforcing the importance of good hand hygiene;
• Adopting healthy practices, such as disposing of used tissues, coughing into a sleeve rather than into a hand, and not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Keeping children home until free of fever for 24 hours (without the aid of fever reducing medication);
• Keeping children home until diarrhea free for 24 hours (without the aid of anti-diarrheal medication); and
• Receiving available vaccines.