67. Coronavirus Update: Update Dec 2 COVID

Dear Faculty and Staff,

In light of new community cases of COVID-19 in HCMC and in order to ensure the health and safety of our community, I am addressing three important matters in this message today.

1. An escalation of the on-campus three-layered health and safety protocols;
2. The need to be ready to work from home;
3. Preparation for quarantine in the event that it is needed.

1. Escalation of the on-campus health and safety protocols

To ensure the health and safety of our community, SSIS is once again tightening its three-layered approach to prevent potential COVID-19 transmission. At this time, we do not know how long we will be required to maintain the escalated protocols, but as always, we will update you immediately with any new developments.

Handwashing and disinfecting protocols

We must all make sure to be vigilant in our hand washing and disinfecting protocols. Make sure your students are washing their hands when they enter and leave your classroom. Continue to disinfect desks and work surfaces at the end of each class. In MS and HS, students can do this themselves, but ES students should not be handling the spray bottles, so this responsibility falls to the teachers and TAs.

The cleaning staff will continue to disinfect common areas three times a day while students are on campus. A more thorough cleaning happens every evening.

Masks

Masks are once again mandatory at all times, both in and outside of classrooms. This practice will remain in place as long as there is a current threat of a COVID-19 community outbreak. This applies to everyone on campus: faculty, staff and students (with the exception of EC and KG students). You may remove your mask to eat and drink, only.

(Coaches/Teachers: Please note that physical activities may need to be moderated to ensure that the wearing of a mask while participating does not result in a health risk e.g. overheating.)

Students and staff should bring extra masks to replace wet, soiled, or lost masks. If you are out of your classroom supply of “emergency” masks, you can pick up more in the MS or HS health offices. Also, please make sure that your students are storing their masks in a plastic bag during class.

Social distancing

As students will wear masks in the classrooms, you may use the classroom furniture arrangement that makes pedagogical sense to you.

Please continue to adhere to the maximum occupancy guidelines as outlined by Chris Beanes.

2. The need to be ready to work from home

This is a developing situation. Although we do not anticipate having to work from home at this time, we must ensure that we are prepared in the event that we are placed in lockdown. Starting today, please make sure to bring home your laptop, charger, and any other classroom/office materials you would require to work from home.

Also, please log onto the SSIS Central Administration System (CAS), click on the green “personal information” button at top right to ensure that your phone number and address are correct.

3. Preparing for quarantine

While we cannot control everything around us, we can control our level of preparedness. In the event that we are home-quarantined or if our buildings are locked down at any time, here are some things that we each can do to be prepared.

How to Prepare for Home Quarantine

Walk yourself through your daily and weekly routines, and think about what you would need to live comfortably in your home for 14 days without going out and without anyone coming in*. Here are some suggestions:

• Canned food
• Frozen vegetables
• Pasta, rice, bread
• Medications for fever, cough, nasal congestion, asthma (enough of your usual puffer)
• Personal hygiene products
• Soap
• Cleaning supplies (trash bags, paper towels, laundry detergent)
• Tissues
• Pet supplies (food, cat litter, etc)
• Yoga mat or exercise equipment

*When a building is locked down, the delivery of goods may still be possible.

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Be Smart and be Safe! Avoid going to places where there are large crowds of people.

For your information, the following is a list of places identified as having been visited by COVID-19 patients in recent days:

City Gym, 119 Pho Quang, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District

Karaoke ICOOL, 120 Thanh Thai, Ward 12, District 10

Highlands Coffee in Van Hanh Mall, District 10

Phuong’s Seafood Restaurant, 47 Cong Chua Ngoc Han, ward 13, District 11

KEY English Center, 59 Nguyen Ba Tuyen, ward 12, Tan Binh District

KEY English Center, 285/24 Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ward 12, District 10

SAS English Center, District 10

Cho Ray Hospital

Minh Chau Pharmacy, 141A Minh Phung, Ward 9, District 6

Isushi restaurant, 112 Cao Thang, Ward 4, District 3

VIVA coffee shop, 319B1 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 15, District 11