On January 9, 2020, the World Health Organization reported that a novel (new) coronavirus had been preliminarily identified by Chinese authorities. The virus, known as COVID-19, is associated with an outbreak of pneumonia that started in late December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States.

The Alaska Section of Epidemiology is closely monitoring the rapidly-emerging outbreak of COVID-19. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. Information and links to COVID-19 resources are available on the State's website at http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/Human-Coronavirus.aspx.

MSBSD has provided COVID-19 information via the attached fliers which describe what you need to know, how to stop the spread of the virus, what you can do to prepare for COVID-19, and what happens if the coronavirus spreads to Alaska. MSBSD has already canceled travel abroad, international and out-of-state, for students and employees for the months of March and April. The District is prepared to cancel school, in conjunction with the Borough and State Section of Epidemiology, should it become necessary. District nursing staff and administrators are aware of the signs for a potential infection and have plans in place to isolate individuals as health authorities are notified. 

Students and staff are encouraged to stay home when sick. Frequent hand washing is one of the best preventative measures that can be taken and schools are providing adequate supplies for good hygiene. Custodial staff in schools are continuing to follow routine cleaning and disinfection processes.