Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources

Updated March 26, 2020 at 4:45 PM

Dear Freire Family,

We wanted to provide an update on the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. On March 13, Governor Carney declared a State of Emergency starting on March 13, 2020 and updated it on March 16, 18, 20, and 22. On March 22, the Governor ordered non-essential businesses to close at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, March 24.

As of today, the number of positive cases in Delaware and the surrounding areas is growing daily. You can find an active count of the reported cases in DE, as well as up-to-date information on how the Division of Public Health is responding to this health crisis here: https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/

Please check your email regularly for important updates and information from Freire Wilmington! If you are not currently signed up for Freire’s weekly newsletter emails, please click here to sign up.

School Closures

Governor Carney has ordered all of Delaware’s public schools to close for two weeks as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues. Schools will be closed through at least May 15 and children should stay home.

We understand this action may pose added hardship for some of our families. Over the next two weeks, we will continue to work with the Delaware Department of Education and the Division of Public Health to prepare for the potential impact that an extended closure could have on our students, their families, and our staff.

Free Student Meals

As of March 27, adult family members may now pick up meals for children who live in their home. The child no longer has to be present. Additionally, please check the meal availability schedule as many pick up sites are now only open certain days of the week. The Community Education Building will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and giving out two days of meals. A “to go” breakfast and lunch may be picked up in the lobby of the Community Education building, located at 1200 N French Street, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Many other locations are also available. Please click here for a full list of meal distribution sites.

We thank you for your commitment to our school and community and we will continue to work to ensure our students and families have what they need, even in the face of life’s many challenges. Be safe, be well, and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Staying Safe

While your student(s) remains home, we encourage you to continue practicing good hygiene, which includes:

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.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Get vaccinated for the flu is you have not already
Don’t shake hands or high five – consider a friendly toe tap or elbow bump

If you feel for any reason your child may have or has been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your doctor immediately. Virus symptoms can range from mild to severe and could include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in a few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

We will remain in close contact with the State of Delaware and local public health officials throughout the duration of this closure and will provide updates to families as appropriate.

We encourage you to stay informed of the situation by regularly checking updates from Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

We understand this is a time of uncertainty and concern. We will work through this together to keep our students, families, and staff safe.

If you have health-related questions, please contact the Coronavirus hotline at 1-866-408-1899 OR your family physician. If you have questions about our school, please contact Mr. Paul. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

See below for more information about the virus and how you can prevent spreading illness:

What are the symptoms?

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

How does it spread?

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet)
- Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possible be inhaled into the lungs
Spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects

How can you help protect yourself and others?

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g. doorknobs, tables, light switches, cell phones, keyboards, etc.)
If you are sick, stay home until your fever is gone for 24 hours
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze – and wash your hands after
Avoid putting fingers in your mouth, ears, or eyes

If you plan on traveling in the next few weeks, please refer to the CDC’s page on travel guidance and advice.

The Delaware Division of Public Health has opened a call center to take questions from the public, schools, medical providers, state agencies and community organizations. Hours of operation will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The call center number is 1-866-408-1899. Individuals can also submit email questions to DPHCall@delaware.gov

We remain hopeful that COVID-19 does not cause an emergency for the Freire Schools community. We will continue to monitor the recommendations from state and local authorities and will update you with any changes.

More Resources

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.