Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

We realize that many of you are closely monitoring the status of the virus that started in China recently, the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). We wanted to let you know our procedures at Urban to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.

While there have been some cases of the virus outside of China, our local community is at a very low level of risk, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. There is currently no known case of 2019-nCoV in Northern California. Urban is closely monitoring health advisories from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the SFDPH.

Our facilities department and janitorial service are experienced in incorporating additional measures during cold and flu season to help reduce the spread of germs and viruses. The maintenance team is wiping down tables, door handles and handrails during the day, with the evening janitorial crew adding a second round of sanitizing door handles, bathroom fixtures and handrails.

As winter is typically cold and flu season, the following are some reminders about best practices to avoid spreading any infection:

If a student is sick or exhibiting contagious symptoms such as fever, cough or sneezing, please stay home from school. Students should be fever-free before returning.
Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Use hand sanitizer that can be found throughout both buildings in student commons areas.
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose, or sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissue immediately and wash hands.
Avoid contact with anyone exhibiting cold-like symptoms.

Again, we are closely monitoring the situation, but there is currently no reason to suspect the coronavirus will impact our community at this time. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the school.

Best regards,

Charlotte Worsley

Assistant Head for Student Life