Good morning,
As is the case with most of the world, the Archdiocese of Boston is monitoring all available information and guidance about COVID-19 (the 2019 Novel Coronavirus) to determine how it impacts the many activities conducted within and by the Archdiocese. In seeking how to respond properly, we will focus at all times on the health, safety and well-being of our faith community and students. While we are reassured by public health officials at national, state and local public health authorities that our country is at a relatively low risk from this virus at this time, we want to take advantage of that fact to prepare in the event that the situation changes.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, we are told, that presents with the same general symptoms as the common cold or the influenza infections that we commonly experience. Should you have questions about an illness you are, or someone you know is, experiencing, we encourage you first to contact your own health provider, and follow the usual practices of good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing (using hand sanitizers with 60% alcohol when soap and water are unavailable); protecting your coughs and sneezes with tissues disposed of immediately, or coughing into your elbow if tissues are not available; cleaning and disinfecting commonly used surfaces often; avoiding contact with people who are ill, if possible; and following other healthy practices of good diet, sleep and exercise.
For further information, we suggest that you frequently consult the three websites where up-to-the-minute authoritative information is readily available: cdc.gov (Center for Disease Control) ; childrenshospital.org (Boston Children’s Hospital); and mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-health (MA Department of Public Health).
For those who have planned international travel for students in the coming months, we suggest you continue to monitor these sites, and communicate with families regularly any information that will help them make the best decision for their student as the final decision is ultimately theirs. Your travel agent will be an excellent resource as well.
In Christ,
Tom
Thomas W. Carroll
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of Boston
