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COVID-19

The National Association for Pupil Transportation is pleased to have provided our members and the industry with timely and useful information related to the ongoing national outbreak of the ‘novel coronavirus’, officially named COVID-19. 

LOCAL STATEMENTS
NAPT suggests that school transportation professionals work with their school leadership to issue a statement to parents about cleanliness on their school buses.  With schools being closed throughout most of the nation, this becomes important given the use of school buses to transport and deliver food and meals to children in need. 

And once this crisis abates and we are back to school, parents will want to know more about what you have done in the 'down-time' to ensure the cleanliness and readiness of the school buses on which their children will be riding. 

Consider including information about steps you may be taking in this situation: 
  • how frequently your school buses are cleaned and disinfected (note that some parents will want to know if you are using green and safer products)
  • whether you are going to continue to perform extra cleaning once the crisis abates
  • what steps you are going to take to mitigate further problems including, for example, hand sanitizing stations on buses as well as protective equipment for drivers and attendants
GENERAL GUIDANCE
We continue to call your attention to some basic guidance about precautions you and your team can take in relation to the COVID-19 virus.  This particular list was taken from the website of the National Association of School Nurses but is also consistent with the CDC lists:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
NAPT urges your attention to new pronouncements coming from our federal government about wearing masks and/or gloves. Your teams should be protected accordingly. 

LOCAL HEALTH CONTACTS
The federal response is also relying heavily on state and local health departments for implementation and emergency actions (school closures, travel restrictions, etc).  School transportation professionals would do well to make contact with local health officials and school health officials to ensure you are ‘in the loop’ on such efforts and that school transportation factors are being considered in such plans.

WEBINAR RECORDINGS (click on title to view archived recording) ​RESOURCES EXEMPLARY ACTIVITIES
Throughout America, school buses are engaged in a variety of activities and services to assist and support local efforts during the COVID-19 crisis. 

We could not begin to list or describe each and every example, but we are proud to share that school buses are integral partners in programs that: 
  • Provide meals to children who otherwise would have received meals in their schools
  • Bring lesson plans and materials to children who are unable to use the internet
  • Bring computer technology to children in need of such equipment to do their school work
  • Station school buses in rural areas to serve as WiFi hotspots for children who cannot otherwise access the internet to do their school studies
All of us at NAPT hope you find this information useful and that you remain safe and healthy!

Please check our website and our various social media platforms for further information and resources.
COVID-19 Global Case Mapping Dashboard
Provided by The Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University


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