Community Health: COVID-19
We are so grateful to be starting another school year on campus! Connect with admissions to learn more about Bennett.
Bennett Day School is committed to providing its community with the information and resources they need to navigate and understand the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
We will update this page regularly as we receive updates and new information on the status of COVID-19. It is important to remember that handling the spread of a serious contagion like COVID-19 is primarily a task for public health agencies; we will rely on their expertise, recommendations, and directives in all of our responses.
Please see below for COVID-19 FAQs and other helpful resources.
Questions?
What are the symptoms and complications that COVID-19 can cause?
Should I be tested for COVID-19?
How can I protect myself?
Visit the How to Protect Yourself & Others page to learn about how to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19.
What should I do if I had close contact with someone who has COVID-19?
Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. Take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if you have symptoms.
What should people at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 do?
If you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, you should:
- Limit your interactions with other people as much as possible.
- Take precautions to prevent getting COVID-19 when you do interact with others.
- If you decide to engage in public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions.
- Keep these items on hand and use them when venturing out: a cloth face covering, tissues, and a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible.
- If possible, avoid others who are not wearing cloth face coverings or ask others around you to wear cloth face coverings.
- Delay or cancel a visit if you or your visitors have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Anyone who has had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should stay home and monitor for symptoms.
- Continue your medicines and do not change your treatment plan without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Have at least a 30-day supply of prescription and non-prescription medicines.
- Do not delay getting emergency care for your underlying medical condition because of COVID-19. Emergency departments have contingency infection prevention plans to protect you from getting COVID-19 if you need care.
Preventing Illness:
While there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19), these everyday preventive actions recommended by the CDC can help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
Wash your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid Close Contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
- Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
- Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
- You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
- Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
- Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
- Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work.
Monitor your health
- Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
- Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
- Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
- Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
- Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
Family Resources:
- Brain Pop Video for children/students (This kid-friendly video explains what coronavirus is, how viruses work, and the best ways to prevent them from infecting more people)
- Discussing Coronavirus with Kids | Care.com
- How To Talk to Kids about Coronavirus | New York Times
- How to Talk to Your Anxious Child About the Coronavirus | Psychology Today
- How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus | Healthline
- Raising Digital Natives: Recommendations for Staying Sane During Extended School Closings
- Talking to Kids About COVID-19
- Teaching Handwashing for Young Children
- What Kids Want to Know About Coronavirus | NPR
Additional Resources:
- A Guide: How to Prepare your Home for Coronavirus
- Advice for the Public | World Health Organization:
- Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- Everyone keeps telling you to stop touching your face (Video)
- COVID-19 | Lurie’s Children’s Hospital
- COVID-19 | Northwestern
- COVID-19 | RUSH Medical Center Resources
- What You Need to Know About Coronavirus | WGN