<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Hot off the presses!</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
US CDC issued <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html" id="LPlnk386411" class="OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html">
this press release</a> today which updates the isolation guidelines for COVID19. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Here is an excerpt giving you the nitty gritty:</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<p class="elementToProof" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and
strategies:</span></p>
<ul style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-left: 25px; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.4rem;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bolder;">Staying
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(7, 82, 144); font-weight: bolder;"><u><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html" id="OWA1433335b-e6bf-b451-d129-4b33c9838dbd" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(7, 82, 144);">up
to date with vaccination</a></u></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(7, 82, 144);"><u><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html" id="OWA1433335b-e6bf-b451-d129-4b33c9838dbd" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: rgb(7, 82, 144);"> </a></u></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">to
protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0.4rem;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bolder;">Practicing good hygiene</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> by covering
coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.</span></li><li style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bolder;">Taking steps for cleaner air</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, such
as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.</span></li></ul>
<p style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza,
treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness.
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall,
and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.</span></p>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
I hope this is good news for all of you as you manage illnesses in your schools as it will make things less complicated. Take care of yourselves and thank you for what you do. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
-Emily </div>
<div id="Signature">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">________________________________________ </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; background-color: white; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b><br>
Emily Poland, MPH, RN, NCSN (she/her)</b></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">School Nurse Consultant</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Coordinator – Coordinated School Health</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Office of School and Student Supports</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Maine Department of Education</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">23 State House Station</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Augusta, Maine 04333-0023</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>Email</b>:
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(12, 100, 192);"><a href="mailto:emily.poland@maine.gov" id="OWA8cf3160e-745e-2e20-1109-cc0eeb2550d3" class="OWAAutoLink" data-linkindex="0" style="color: rgb(12, 100, 192); margin: 0px;">emily.poland@maine.gov</a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>Phone</b>: 207-592-0387</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="http://www.maine.gov/doe" target="_blank" id="OWAe318767e-0033-fee8-90ce-6964e9b7f618" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: http://www.maine.gov/doe. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="1" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); margin: 0px;">Maine
DOE</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/" target="_blank" id="OWA6d53d234-3d2a-96c6-411e-8fbf8c39a92e" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="2" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); margin: 0px;">Facebook</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://twitter.com/mdoenews" target="_blank" id="OWAbeb94e0a-a2b1-b8b9-bb9f-b16719e56c8e" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://twitter.com/mdoenews. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="3" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); margin: 0px;">Twitter</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en" target="_blank" id="OWA53ac772e-8986-a1c7-f03f-080794cc627b" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="4" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); margin: 0px;">Instagram</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a href="https://mainedoenews.net/" target="_blank" id="OWA60992c7b-10df-cc9c-27db-7d1c6757d570" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://mainedoenews.net/. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="5" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); margin: 0px;">Maine
DOE Newsroom</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> |
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(12, 100, 192);"><a href="https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines" target="_blank" id="OWA6ed2d938-18b0-e041-1dd8-68c2ba136dfb" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Original URL: https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines. Click or tap if you trust this link." rel="noopener noreferrer" data-linkindex="6" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: rgb(12, 100, 192); margin: 0px;">School
Health Services</a></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><br>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: black;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; background-color: white; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b><img id="x_imageSelected0" width="192" height="69" style="width: 144pt; height: 52.49pt; max-width: 800px; min-width: auto; min-height: auto; margin: 0px; vertical-align: top;" data-outlook-trace="F:2|T:2" src="cid:5ea3980f-ca0a-4eb9-b338-32c055a75d5e"></b>
<img id="x_imageSelected1" width="90" height="76" style="width: 90px; height: 76px; max-width: 800px; min-width: auto; min-height: auto; margin: 0px; vertical-align: top;" data-outlook-trace="F:2|T:2" src="cid:8915383e-56b0-498e-9b07-afb8690eefd2"></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>