EAST PROVIDENCE — Parents asked the East Providence School Committee on Tuesday night about their concerns over the coronavirus, and specifically about a lack of hot water in the district’s elementary schools.

"You’re 99% correct with that," said committee member Anthony Ferreira after a parent confronted members about the absence of hot water. "The state says that sanitizer will offset that because, right now, we don’t have hot water, but we’ve got plenty of soap."

Ferreira said he would look into plans for getting hot water into schools, such as through purchasing water heating devices. In the meantime, he said he would ensure that all schools are stocked with soap and hand sanitizer. He also said he would research ways to rectify the situation and try to come up with a plan by Friday.

Joseph Wendelken, spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Health, wrote in an email that the temperature of the water does not matter for disinfecting purposes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wash their hands with soap and warm or cold water and scrub for 20 seconds.

"Warm water does not help you disinfect your hands more effectively," Wendeklen wrote. "People tend to wash their hands for longer and (thus more thoroughly) when they are using warm water, but the water temperature itself does not affect how effective hand washing is."

Parents and members of the School Committee said they feared that some, especially elementary-aged kids, would not wash their hands for long enough if forced to use cold water.

But Ferreira assured parents that, for now, schools are safe for their kids to attend.

"I will go and sit in any classroom next to any one of my students tomorrow morning until I tell you I’m uncomfortable doing that," he said. "I will sit in any seat. I will walk through any classrooms."

Schools Supt. Kathryn Crowley wrote in an email that she had sent her director and assistant director to check all schools.

Two East Providence teachers have taken themselves out of school due to concerns over potential exposure to the coronavirus.

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