Maine Schools Step Up Hygiene And Emergency Practices In Response To Coronavirus Concerns

Danielle McNichol, a fifth grade health and math teacher at South School in Rockland. (Robbie Feinberg/Maine Public)

There are still no reported cases in Maine of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. But as cases have increased nationwide, state and local officials have started to prepare. Schools around the state are stepping up their hygiene and emergency practices in preparation, with some even using the situation as a learning experience.

Before snack time inside Charlie Currier’s first-grade classroom at South Elementary School in Rockland, students line up behind a sink and wash their hands, one-by-one.

A self-described “germaphobe,” Currier says she is prioritized instruction in hygiene — particularly at this young age. In fact, she even teaches a whole mini-lesson on it in the fall.

“At the beginning of the year, we do a whole group practice. Just teaching them that you don’t just squirt the soap on your hand and wipe it off. I actually show them,you have to scrub it all over. Scrub your fingernails with warm water, soap. It should be at least 15 seconds. And we even watch a video on handwashing from YouTube.”

Read the rest of this story at Maine Public’s website.