Two Franklin middle school staff members are in self-quarantine amidst continuing concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to the district's top administrator.

FRANKLIN - Two Franklin middle school staff members are in self-quarantine amidst continuing concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to the district's top administrator.

Superintendent of Schools Sara Ahern issued an advisory after the administration learned over the weekend that the two staff members were asked to self-quarantine "after having attended a function with someone who tested positive for COVID-19."

The staff members, who work at Horace Mann Middle School and Annie Sullivan Middle School, were not showing any symptoms of illness, Ahern indicated.

The quarantine is being undertaken as a precaution, as per the recommendations of public health officials. There are no current confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus in Franklin.

"We have sought guidance from MDPH (the Massachusetts Department of Public Health) on this matter and are assured that we do not need to take additional steps at this time," Ahern said.

Out of "an abundance of caution," she noted, school custodial staff were called back to the two schools on Sunday "to conduct an extra round of cleaning and sanitization of both Horace Mann Middle School and Annie Sullivan Middle School, as well as the common spaces shared with Oak Street Elementary and Keller Elementary schools."

The local public health offices, as well as the DPH, stress that the risk to the public of becoming infected remains low.

Officials at both the town and school level are keeping close tabs on the evolving situation.

"As a district, we continue to remain informed of the health advisories being issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and other agencies," Ahern state in her advisory. "We also continue to communicate internally among administrators, teachers, our local health department, school nurse leader, and consulting school physician. Nursing staff are monitoring illness within the student body and are prepared to react appropriately. Our response continues to align with agency guidance."

The town has created a special portal on its website with information about COVID-19. It can be accessed at

www.franklinma.gov/health-department/urgent-alerts/corona-virus-information-portal

Ahern said the school community is being vigilant about ensuring the schools offer Franklin's students a clean and healthy environment in which to learn.

"Our custodians are engaged in the regular cleaning of schools, as they routinely do during cold and flu season. They have also augmented this regular cleaning with additional cleaning and sanitization of hard surfaces," Ahern stated. "They have also made sure that the hand-sanitizing stations, located across all schools, are full and operable."

School administrators are reinforcing that children and staff members who are ill should stay home.

"If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home from school: Temperature greater than 100, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, any rash not yet diagnosed by a physician, red or pink itchy eye, and/or drainage from eye, and any contagious illness such as chicken pox, strep throat or flu. We also ask that staff stay home when they are ill in order to prevent the spread of infections," Ahern's advisory urges.

As concerns about COVID-19 continue, the administration is also keeping tabs on recommendations for school field trips and large gatherings, Ahern said.

Last week, Gov. Charlie Baker suggested that school districts should consider canceling any international field trips planned this spring. Ahern noted that Franklin schools have no trip scheduled this spring, but there is a trip to Switzerland and Germany planned in the summer. That trip is still on the calendar, she said, but the district is "remaining informed of cancellation guidance about summer international travel, as well as local, regional, and national travel."

Recognizing that children may have many questions and anxieties about COVID-19, Ahern directs parents to visit an online resource that can assist them with addressing questions. It can be found at https://tinyurl.com/voslwj3.

Steps that can be taken to avoid illness include the following recommendations:

● Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Use Alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

● When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. You can also cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw used tissues in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

● Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels or other items. Wash these items thoroughly with soap and water after use.

● Avoid close contact with people who are sick whenever possible.

● Practice other good health habits: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Ahern noted, "we will keep you informed with updates and information that become available to us. We continue to seek out information, sharing it as appropriate, and following all recommended guidelines to ensure the safety of our students and staff, as we are deeply committed to their well-being."