Covid-19 Information

Daily Student Symptom Check

PRIOR to coming to school to help decrease the risk of spreading COVID -19 as well as any type of infection, all students need to complete a self screening and answer the following questions before coming to school each morning:

1. Do you have any of these symptoms that are not caused by another condition? 

• Fever temperature 100.4  degrees or above

• Chills

• Cough

• Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing

• Fatigue

• Body Aches

• New Onset Loss of Taste and or Smell

• Sore Throat

• Congestion

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Headache

2. Have you been exposed to or been in close contact with a COVID positive person?

3. Are you waiting for the results of a COVID test?

4. Have you travelled outside of the United States within the past 14 days?

5. Have you had a positive COVID-19 test for an active virus in the past 10 days? 

6. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection? 

****If your child has any of the following symptoms and/or your child has answered yes to any of the questions, please keep your child home and notify your child’s School nurse immediately as these indicate a possible illness that may decrease the student’s ability to learn and also put them at risk for spreading illness to others.****

REPORTING

If your child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID -19, please contact your child's school nurse immediately. The direct contact for any illness/Covid or injury related questions or reporting of symptoms should be your child's school nurse.

Here is the list of school nurses and their contact information:

Foster - Hilaire Bauer, CSN,RN  hbauer@mtlsd.net

Hoover - Hiliarie Bauer CSN, RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Markham - Hilarie Bauer CSN,RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Howe - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Lincoln - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN - kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Elementary - Lauren Suess CSN,RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Middle - Lauren Suess CSN, RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Mellon Middle - Do Sablo, CSN,RN dsabol@mtlsd.net

Washington - Do Sabol CSN,RN dsabol@mtlsd.net

High School - Janet McGeough CSN,RN jmcgeough@mtlsd.net

Chairman of Health Services - Deanna Hess CSN,RN dhess@mtlsd.net

SYMPTOMS REQUIRING SCHOOL TO IMMEDIATELY SEND A STUDENT HOME FOR REFERRAL TO THEIR PHYSICIAN FOR POSSIBLE COVID-19 TESTING:

1 or more of the following:

• New Onset Cough - not Asthma or Allergy related

• Fever 100.4 or above

• Shortness of breath

• Difficulty Breathing

• New onset loss of Taste and/or Smell

2 or more of the following;

• Chills

• Muscle pains/aches

• Headache

• Sore Throat

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Extreme Fatigue

• Congestion/Runny Nose

If your child is sent home with any of the above , one of the following will need to occur prior to your child’s return to school:  

• COVID-19 testing was completed:

  • Keep child home until test results reported and reviewed with your school nurse

  • Reported as negative and reviewed with the school nurse   AND

  • The child meets the school’s normal criteria for return after an illness.                                                                   

                                                             OR                   

• A health care provider has evaluated the child and documented an alternative diagnosis and confirmed that the child may return to school.

                                                              OR

• COVID-19 testing was not done and all of the following are true:

  • At least 10 days since the onset of symptoms AND

  • Fever free off anti fever medications for 24 hours AND

  • Symptoms are improving

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The direct contact for any illness/COVID or injury related questions or reporting of symptoms should be your child’s school nurse.  

Foster  - Hilaire Bauer, CSN,RN  hbauer@mtlsd.net

Hoover - Hiliarie Bauer CSN, RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Markham - Hilarie Bauer CSN,RN hbauer@mtlsd.net

Howe - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Lincoln - Karli Gerhart CSN,RN - kgerhart@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Elementary - Lauren Suess CSN,RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Jefferson Middle - Lauren Suess CSN, RN lsuess@mtlsd.net

Mellon Middle - Do Sablo, CSN,RN dsabol@mtlsd.net

Washington - Do Sabol CSN,RN dsabol@mtlsd.net

High School - Janet McGeough CSN,RN jmcgeough@mtlsd.net

Chairman of Health Services - Deanna Hess CSN,RN dhess@mtlsd.net

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School Communication

A District communication (email and posting on the District web-site) will be sent to the school community should an employee or student be confirmed with COVID-19; any relevant school closure information or subsequent adjustments to the Health and Safety Plan would be included in that communication.

 

In December, the District launched a new COVID-19 Dashboard to provide more data to create a fuller view of the COVID-19 cases in our schools. It aligns with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s new guidelines regarding the identification of Covid-19 cases in schools.  

• The new state guidelines require that we track positive cases physically present at the school during a 14-day rolling period and take action, such as closing a building, based on the number of positive Covid -19 cases reported during that two week period. This data is tracked in the first table on the Covid-19 Dashboard. 

• Our elementary schools fall in the “Small” building category as designated by the PDE. This means that if the level of community transmission in our county is in the “Substantial” range, and we have 2 positive cases in a building (staff, students, or both), we may be required to close the school for 3-5 days to clean and contact trace depending on the guidance we receive from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The transmission rate for the county is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard.

• If it becomes necessary to close a school, we will move to remote instruction for the period of time established in consultation with the ACHD. We will communicate the school closing with parents by phone alert, email, and text message.  

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To address school leaders’ need for additional guidance in responding to COVID-19 cases in a school setting, the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (DOH) and Education (PDE) are providing recommendations to Pre-K to 12 schools for use in consultation with public health staff when making decisions related to school procedures following a case of COVID-19 in a school." --Pennsylvania Department of Education

Recommendations for Small (<500 Students) Pre-K to 12 School Buildings Following Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-19

*If case investigations, contact tracing, and cleaning and disinfecting can be accomplished in a faster time frame, the length of closure time may be shortened.

†DOH and PDE recommend a Full Remote Learning Model for all schools in counties with substantial level of community transmission. Schools that choose to pursue in-person instruction or other models in which school buildings are utilized by students and/or staff should follow the recommendations here.

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Recommendations for Medium (500-900 students) Pre-K to 12 School Buildings Following Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-19
It is important to note that a significant and/or widespread outbreak may require moving to a more remote-based instructional model more quickly. DOH will provide proactive consultative assistance to school entities should such an outbreak occur.

*If case investigations, contact tracing, and cleaning and disinfecting can be accomplished in a faster time frame, the length of closure time may be shortened.

^†DOH and PDE recommend a Full Remote Learning Model for all schools in counties with substantial level of community transmission. Schools that choose to pursue in-person instruction or other models in which school buildings are utilized by students and/or staff should follow the recommendations here.

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Recommendations for Large (>900 students) Pre-K to 12 School Buildings Following Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-19
It is important to note that a significant and/or widespread outbreak may require moving to a more remote-based instructional model more quickly. DOH will provide proactive consultative assistance to school entities should such an outbreak occur.

*If case investigations, contact tracing, and cleaning and disinfecting can be accomplished in a faster time frame, the length of closure time may be shortened.

^†DOH and PDE recommend a Full Remote Learning Model for all schools in counties with substantial level of community transmission. Schools that choose to pursue in-person instruction or other models in which school buildings are utilized by students and/or staff should follow the recommendations here.

If it becomes necessary to close a school due to COVID-19 concerns, we will move to remote instruction for the period of time established in consultation with the ACHD. We will communicate the school closing with parents by phone alert, email, and text message. 
Families: Please be sure to have your contact information up-to-date in the Dashboard.

Isolation and Quarantine Basics PDF

ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE BASICS
Due to the volume of new cases, it may take longer than expected for the Health Department to reach new cases of COVID-19 and their close contacts. Some people may not be reached at all. Here is what to do if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are a close contact.

YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 (ISOLATION)
What should I do?

Isolate: Avoid all others. Only leave your home for medical care. Remain isolated for 10 days since you first experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or 24 hours after symptoms improve, whichever is longer.

• If you tested positive and did not have symptoms, remain isolated for 10-days starting from the date you had your positive test taken.
• If you live with others, stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if possible. Don’t share personal items. Clean and disinfect your home and frequently touched surfaces regularly. Wear a mask when around others and have them wear masks too.
• Do not get another test for COVID-19. You should NOT get a follow-up test to go back to work or school or to leave isolation after 10 days. It is very common for the test to remain positive for a couple of months, even though you are no longer able to spread the virus.

What will happen?

• Case investigation: If you see a number you don’t recognize – it won’t be blocked or unlisted – it may be a case investigator with the Health Department calling to gather information about you. Remember, the Health Department will never ask for financial information including social security, bank account or credit card numbers.
• To make case investigations faster, the Health Department representative may ask you to fill out an online form. This is secure and confidential.
• Contact tracing: You will be asked for names and phone numbers of recent close contacts. A close contact is anyone who you were within 6 feet or less of for 15 minutes or more – with or without a mask – since two days before you first noticed symptoms. A Health Department contact tracer will call these people and advise them to quarantine and get tested. Your name will not be disclosed to your close contacts.
• If you tested positive but are not contacted, continue to isolate and notify close contacts on your own. You should ask close contacts to get tested and quarantine according to the instructions below.

What if I tested negative for COVID-19 but had symptoms or was a close contact?

• Even with a negative test, you should quarantine according to the instructions below. If symptoms persist, consider waiting a couple of days and get tested a second time.
• Despite advances in our knowledge of COVID-19 and testing, false negative tests are still possible.

YOU ARE A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 (QUARANTINE)
What should I do?

• Quarantine: Avoid people outside your household while in quarantine. Only leave your house for medical care. Remain in quarantine for 14 days after your last possible exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• Get tested: It is important to know if you have COVID-19 and should isolate and notify your close contacts. A map of testing locations in the county is available here: https://bit.ly/ACTestingSiteMap
• You cannot test out of quarantine. Even if your test is negative, you should remain quarantined for 14 days in case you received a false negative result.

What will happen?

• Contact tracing: If you see a number you don’t recognize – it won’t be blocked or unlisted – it may be the Health Department calling to do contact tracing. Answer the phone and follow the instructions. Remember, the Health Department will never ask you for financial information including social security, bank account or credit card numbers.
• Due to the number of new cases, the Health Department may not complete contact tracing for all cases. If a friend, co-worker, family member, school or university says you are a close contact, please quarantine and get tested according to the instructions above.

HELP IS AVAILABLE
Isolating or quarantining because of COVID-19 can be challenging, but they are important tools to contain the virus. Help is available through the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania by calling 2-1-1 or by calling the Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-856-2774. Resources include:

• Food assistance: The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank is offering home delivery for people who cannot leave their home. For information on scheduling a delivery, call 412-460-3663, ext. 655, or visit https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
• Housing assistance: Allegheny Link has is encouraging those in need of housing services and support to call them at 866-730-2368 or email AlleghenyLink@AlleghenyCounty.us
• Child care assistance: Trying Together has partnered with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to provide information on finding child care at www.tryingtogether.org/find-child-care. Help is also available by calling Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) Region 5 at 412-350-3577
• Assistance for seniors: Allegheny County’s SeniorLine can be reached at 412-350-5460
• Substance abuse disorder assistance: PA Get Help Now can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP
• To report child abuse or neglect: Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313
• Concerned about abuse or neglect of an older adult or an adult with disabilities: Older Adult Protective Service can be reached at 412-350-6905 or 1-800-490-8505

 

Allegheny County Health Department Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 Exposure at School or Child Care PDF  (Updated 9/29/2020)

What is COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)?

COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus. The name, COVID-19, stands for corona (CO), virus (VI), disease (D), and 2019 (19).

People with COVID-19 report a wide range of symptoms, from mild symptoms to severe illness. After exposure to the virus, it can take 2 to 14 days to develop symptoms. The average time is about 5 to 7 days. Up to 40% of people with the virus may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms.

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

For more information on symptoms, please consult the CDC guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html or the Allegheny County Health Department website: https://www.alleghenycounty.us/coronavirus

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Who is a “close contact”?

The CDC defines a close contact as someone who:

• was within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
• provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them
• shared eating or drinking utensils
• was sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on them
 

You are still considered a close contact even if you were wearing a mask while you were around someone with COVID-19. Masks are meant to protect other people in case you are infected, and not to protect you from becoming infected. There may also be some personal protection from mask wearing as well.

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What does a “close contact” of a someone who has COVID-19 have to do?

• Close contacts must remain at home (self-quarantine) for 14 days from the last date they were in close contact to the person with COVID-19. That is because it can take 14 days to develop symptoms after exposure.
• You should not have visitors to your home.
• If you need any support (example, food, housing, medications, support) in order to remain in quarantine or isolation, please call 211.
• You should monitor for symptoms, and you should contact a health care provider if you develop symptoms to get tested.
• If a close contact would like to be tested for COVID-19, they should contact their healthcare provider to schedule a COVID-19 test. It is best to schedule the test about a week (5 to 7 days) after exposure; this is the most likely time to find the virus if it is there. If you are not able to schedule a test through your healthcare provider, or do not have a healthcare provider, please visit https://bit.ly/ACTestingSiteMap or www.alleghenycovidtesting.com to find a testing site.

• If you need transportation to a testing location, please call 211, follow the prompts to COVID. The
Health Department has resources available for people who do not have transportation to a testing site.
• Please note - a negative result before end of the 14-day quarantine period does not rule out possible
infection. By self-quarantining for 14 days, you lower the chance of possibly exposing others to COVID-19.

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If you were a close contact and got tested, what should you expect after you get the results?

Stay home until you get results

If your test is positive for COVID-19:

• Please let the school nurse know as soon as you receive the positive result.

• In accordance with CDC guidance, a person who has COVID-19 must remain home in isolation until all

of the following are true:

o At least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms AND

o Until fever-free off anti-fever medications for 24 hours AND

o Symptoms are improving.

Note: The COVID-positive individual does NOT need a repeat COVID-19 test or a doctor’s note in order to return to the school

• You will receive a call from the Allegheny County Health Department to provide more information and to answer any questions.

• The Health Department will work with you and the school nurse to determine who are your close

contact and then reach out to them to quarantine, monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested.

If your test is negative:

If your test is negative, you still need to continue the 14-day quarantine. This is because sometimes the tests are wrong, and the best way to make sure you do not spread the virus is for you to stay home for the full 14 days. If at the end of 14 days you have not had any symptoms and the test was negative, you may return to the school.

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What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

 • Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. 
• You should not leave isolation until you meet the CDC criteria outlined above. 
• A  quarantine should last 14 days since the last possible day of exposure.

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What happens in the school if a student or staff member has symptoms that could be COVID-19 (a COVID-like illness)? 

The person with symptoms can return to school when:

• COVID-19 testing was completed and was reported as negative, and the person meets the school’s normal criteria for return after an illness
    OR 
• A health care provider has evaluated the person and documented an alternative diagnosis and confirmed that the person may return to school. 
    OR 
• COVID-19 testing was not done and all of the following are true:  o At least 10 days since the onset of symptoms AND  o Fever-free off anti-fever medications for 24 hours AND  o Symptoms are improving. 

• Note: Repeat COVID testing is not required to return to the school. 

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If someone in the household was a close contact, does everyone in the household have to quarantine? 

If no one in the household is showing symptoms of COVID-19, then only the person who was identified as the close contact has to quarantine. 

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What can we do to prevent COVID-19?

There are simple things you and your family can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  These include: 

• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently
• Wear masks that cover your nose and mouth in public 
• Keep at least 6 feet from others
• Limit trips outside the home to essential travel (for example work, school, groceries, medical and dental appointments)
 • Avoid closed areas with many people 

If you have questions about COVID-19 in general, COVID-19 in schools, or need community resources, please call 211 and follow the prompts for these areas. 

 

Please review the link on travelers from the PA DOH and CDC as you make your travel plans.  

Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Information for Travelers

CDC Travel During a Pandemic

 

All students are expected to wear face coverings per Governor Wolf’s order (updated November 23, 2020).

The use of face coverings is one of the important ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly affected but does not have symptoms.  Face coverings are not Personal Protective Equipment.  

CDC does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks.

 

• Face Covering must over your face and nose

• Must be secured on face

• Be worn inside and outside of the school setting

  • Only be removed to eat or drink

  • If removed - must maintain 6 foot of physical distancing - while mask is off

Mask breaks MUST be limited to:

• NO longer than 10 minutes in duration

• Physical distancing of 6 feet must be maintained if on mask break

• Change face covering if current one soiled

• Do NOT share a face covering

• Do Not touch the front of your face covering

• Do NOT put around your neck or on your forehead

PROPERLY WEARING AND REPLACING FACE COVERINGS:

Wear your Mask Correctly

• Wash your hands before putting on your mask

• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin

• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face

• Make sure you can breathe easily

Properly Wearing and Replacing Face Coverings

Wear Your Mask Correctly

• -Wash your hands before putting on your mask
• -Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• -Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
• -Make sure you can breathe easily

Removing Masks

• -Take Off Your Mask Carefully - ONLY to Eat- Drink - for mask Break or when soiled
• -Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
• -Handle only by the ear loops or ties
• -Fold outside corners together
• -Place mask in your paper bag or baggie - carefully
• -Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing 
• -Wash hands immediately after removing.
• -To Replace mask - follow How to wear mask above
   

 

 

 Watch a video of the way to properly wear a mask. 

Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of any virus and avoid getting others sick.

It is especially important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water while scrubbing the palms, back of hands, in-between fingers and underneath the fingernails. Be sure to lather for at least 20 seconds or more and dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

 

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After handling pet food or pet treats

• After touching garbage

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.

• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.

 Watch a video of the best practice in handwashing.

Read important guidelines from the CDC concerning gatherings. 

CDC Guidelines for Personal and Social Activities

Due to COVID -19 we are asking for your help in decreasing the number and frequency of non-essential student visits to the nurse’s office.  Reducing visits to the nurse’s office limits your child’s unnecessary exposure to possible germs.   

The District's Health Services Department is asking students to carry their own:

• Paper bag or baggie labelled with their name on it - to put their mask in for mask breaks

• Chap-stick  

• Small bottle of hand lotion

• Wax for their braces, but remind them not to share.  

• Change of clothes in their backpacks as accidents do occur. 

• Water Bottle

Students will be discouraged from visiting the nurse for these non-essential reasons. 

To further limit exposure, teachers will be keeping basic first aid supplies in their classrooms (band aids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, gloves) to treat minor scrapes and scratches.

Please continue to reinforce healthy hygiene habits such as hand washing, coughing into the elbow, and not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Please contact your child's school nurse with any questions or concerns.

It is of vital importance that schools receive the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information on each of our students on a timely basis.  

 Please note the following tips:

• You must go in under the parent/guardian’s Dashboard account, not the student’s

•   Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information is located under the “Account Preferences” tab

•  Please include parents/guardians (in priority order) as part of your four contact options if you wish to be contacted.

•  Please enter this information for each student – you may utilize the “Copy From” feature to expedite the process.

• If you have completed this information in a previous year, please review it every school year and even if there are no changes, click the submit button at the end of the page.  This will complete the process and the information will be saved.  Also, please click the submit button any time you need to make a change to any of the information.

• Students with more than one parent account or those that do not have access to a computer will need to complete a hard copy of the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information sheet.  Please contact your child’s health office for a copy of this.

• Please contact your child’s nurses office for any issues, concerns or if you will need a hard copy of the Emergency Medical Contact/Release Information Sheet.

Thank you for your assistance in following through on this vital part of your child’s health record.  Please feel free to contact your building secretary for assistance with a Dashboard account and your building certified school nurse if you have a medical concern regarding your child/ren.

• CDC Managing Stress and Anxiety during COVID-19 Pandemic:
   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
   

• NASP Talking to children about COVID-19 (multilingual resources available):
   https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

• NCTSN Caregiver COVID-19 Preparedness fact sheet:
   https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
   

• SAMSHA Taking care of behavioral health during an infectious disease outbreak:
   https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Taking-Care-of-Your-Behavioral-Health-During-an-Infectious-Disease-Outbreak/sma14-4894
   

• Resolve Crisis Services: 1-888-7-YOU-CAN; 1-888-796-8226
   

• National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255 / Text CONNECT 741741

Center for Disease Controls (CDC)

Allegheny County Health Department

Pennsylvania Department of Health

World Health Organization (WHO)

CDC Stop the Spread of Germs

CDC Symptoms of COVID-19

Mt. Lebanon Municipality Preparations

stclair.org