Preparation due to coronavirus intensify

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » News surrounding the coronavirus is hard to avoid and advice from national, state, and local health departments is being updated nearly hourly.

As of Saturday New York officially has more than 500 confirmed cases, three are in Saratoga County. News from other parts of the world, as well as other parts of the U.S., is not so measured.

Schools in the State of Washington were closed due to the coronavirus as of Monday. The entire country of Italy is under quarantine while the U.S. stock market is slowly recovering like a patient in ICU.

A walk through local grocery stores finds certain shelves, like those for bleach, nearly empty. Requests for surgical masks in local pharmacies bring out suppressed laughter and strange looks from those standing behind the counter.

But preparations for the virus are being undertaken in certain quarters because people know they and their organizations must be prepared if or when someone nearby tests positive.

In a statement on what kind of preparations are underway in Clifton Park Town Hall, Supervisor Philip Barrett said in a March 5 email the town had been working with the county and local partners to disseminate information and prepare for the possibility of additional cases being identified in the state and the Capital Region.

As reports made clear that testing would increase the number of cases identified, the town established the Clifton Park Health Committee.

“The committee,” Barrett wrote, “will work with all applicable entities to promote the health of our town throughout the year and if necessary, serve as a rapid response team in more challenging situations.”

It is comprised of elected officials, first responders, health officials, public safety staff, medical professionals and community organizations.

In an interview that same day, Barrett said he had reviewed the equipment available to the members of the Clifton Park Emergency Corps.

“I believe it’s important that people know our EMS personnel are trained, equipped and prepared to serve our community in any situation and that we’re able to inform our community of the latest information and if the situation necessitates it, we’re ready to react and make policy at a moment’s notice,” he said.

On Monday, March 9, Barrett and the supervisor of the towns of Halfmoon, Malta, Moreau, and Wilton formed the Saratoga County Northway Corridor Public Health Task Force.

The group formalized a partnership to assist Saratoga County’s response to the growing concerns of the coronavirus.

The Task Force is prepared to disseminate information to residents and work together to pursue the sharing of resources and information as circumstances warrant.

At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, a media advisory from Saratoga County announced that the county Department of Health would hold an informa

tion session on the coronavirus for county officials and community leaders at 5 p.m. in the Ballston Spa High School auditorium.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide key information that the leaders could disseminate to those they serve and with whom they interact.

“The Department will be presenting updates on COVID-19 quarantines, ways to reduce risk, planning guidance for specific groups and other tools and resources,” the advisory stated.

In the Shenendehowa School District, the first letter home to parents about the coronavirus went out Feb. 27. At the time there were no cases in the state.

Noting that it was a rapidly evolving situation the letter said the district was monitoring the situation and getting guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the NYS Department of Health, the county Department of Health and the NYS Education Department.

In a March 6 interview, public communications director Kelly DeFeciani said the district remained in touch with the agencies previously noted while thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the schools each night.

In a message on March 9, after the two cases of the virus were found in Saratoga County, the school district noted that fact, gave links to resources to learn more, and stated that it was still following the guidelines from the previously named agencies.

“If the district becomes aware that a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19,” the message stated, “it will immediately notify staff and parents/guardians.”

The issue of the coronavirus was discussed by Shen Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson at a Saturday morning Community Conversation on March 8.

As part of the Conversation, Robinson discussed the unseen impacts of closing schools.

“If the county or the state makes a decision to shut a school it must be a coordinated decision,” he said. “Is it going to be for 14 days, 24, days 44 days? The big question is what are you trying to achieve in that time?”

And, he noted, though the district has the capacity to handle virtual lessons what about students’ capacity and what about those students without computers at home. Additionally, Robinson noted that in some cases free school meals provide 60 percent of the student’s nutritional daily intake and when school is out what are they going to do.

As of Tuesday, the Ballston Spa School District was in much the same situation as Shen, using messages home to keep parents informed and announcements on the district website to try and keep track of a fluid situation.

In a Feb. 28 message home Superintendent Ken Slentz took a similar tact as Shen’s early flyer home, noting it was the cold and flu season and explained the proper ways to protect oneself.

Slentz went on in the message to note the district was preparing for remote management of business and HR function including payroll and ordering additional supplies for the health office, maintain contact with the proper agencies and utilizing cleaning techniques and materials to prevent the spread of the flu.

“Finally,” the message stated, “should the district need to close school for more than a few days, we do not have a system-wide response that would allow us to continue the education of our students through an electronic platform or otherwise. While many of our high school courses could provide students with additional work, actual instruction could not take place.”

In a March 6 message home Slentz again discussed proper individual health care techniques.

In a March 8, message Slentz noted there were “cases” of the coronavirus in Saratoga County and that there were others who were practicing self-quarantine.

“The governor’s declaration of a state of emergency in NYS does not have an impact on schools or travel at this time,” he wrote. “That said, we are considering options for learning should we need to close school for a period of time that would be longer than a two or three day period.”

At the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, Library Director Alex Gutilius, Tuesday said the library is being cleaned regularly with careful attention to touched surfaces.

Gutilius added that the library has developed a pandemic response plan also to establish protocols to be used if needed.

“We want to have a balanced, responsible approach to operating the library that is supported by public health guidance,” she wrote in an email. “The plan is a general guideline for how we will respond, which may include limiting library services if necessary. Staff has been meeting regularly to review options in what is a fast-evolving situation.”

Gutilius added that the library is planning for ways to make materials available for patrons if possible and noted the e-books, e-audiobooks and streaming video and TV that people can access from home.

“Should it be necessary, we are prepared to limit services, adjust hours and more,” she said.