March 12, 2021

We have recently received notification of at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 in a student or staff person at Downeast School. A Bangor School Nurse or school representative will be reaching out to all close contacts this evening or tomorrow morning. Close contacts will need to quarantine until March 21 and may return to school March 22. Due to the limited amount of close contacts, Downeast School will remain open.

Please help stop the spread of the virus by:

·    Wearing a face mask when out of your home

·    Practicing physical distancing (keep at least six feet apart)

·    Practicing good hygiene (wash your hands, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid touching face)

·    Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces

·    Staying home when you are sick or show any symptoms

·    Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

·    Taking care of yourself: eating healthy, exercising, staying current with vaccinations

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include:

•     Fever or chills

•     Cough

•     Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

•     Fatigue

•     Muscle or body aches

•     Headache

•     New loss of taste or smell

•     Sore throat

•     Congestion or runny nose

•     Nausea or vomiting

•     Diarrhea

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school. For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

As always, thank you for your help and please be safe and be well.