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Area schools consider coronavirus precautions

FILE - This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Health officials hope to avoid stigma and error in naming the virus causing an international outbreak of respiratory illnesses. But some researchers say the current moniker, 2019 nCoV, which stands for 2019 novel coronavirus, probably won't stick in the public's mind. (CDC via AP, File)

HANCOCK — The Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD) is taking the precautionary measure of preparing for the coronavirus, though there have been no confirmed cases of it in Michigan.

CCISD Superintendent George Stockero said he has been in close communication with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department over the past week regarding the topic.

Stockero said he was told that if an outbreak was to occur, and it became widespread, the Health Department would tell the public schools to close, as well as closing local area churches, universities, and all sporting events.

“So, basically, they would shut down everybody,” said Stockero.

The schools within the ISD have a policy, Stockero said, that in case of a pandemic, the local schools will obey whatever instructions they receive from the Health Dept.

“More than likely, we would close school down before they tell us to close school,” said Stockero, “because we have closed in the past for the flu.”

Stockero said that when absences reach 25 percent, the schools are closed for a period of two-five days, which is something the schools have done several times in the past.

He said that in the Upper Peninsula, schools are permitted by the state to close six days per school year for “snow days,” and can request for up to three more days. After a total of nine days, the school need to make any additional days up during the summer.

“So, should we be shut down for two or three weeks, or whatever,” he said, “we would have to make it up.”

Stockero said that at this point, it is important to know that the school districts have not previously been through such a precaution.

“We don’t know what the Health Department would want us to do, we don’t know what the state would want us to do,” he said, “this is all new territory.”

In considering the coronavirus, Stockero said he has not been informed by any of the schools within the ISD, he has not received any reports of high cases of influenza, although some schools in the eastern U.P. have closed when they reached 25 percent absenteeism due to the seasonal influenza, but it has not occurred in Houghton, Ontonagon, Keweenaw or Baraga county schools.

It is simply a precaution at this point, said Stockero.

“When I talked to the Health Department,” he said, “they have absolutely no fears of this happening. They told me there was between 55 or 60 cases in the United States, but there have been none in Michigan.”

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