EP City leaders rollout preventative measures; Keep public informed on COVID -19 (coronavirus)

Joint Statement from Mayor & School Superintendent

The City of East Providence released a statement on March 1, 2020 regarding the current situation in Rhode Island with the coronavirus. The statement was jointly issued by the office of Mayor and School Superintendent. Mayor Bob DaSilva, Superintendent Katherine Crowley, Council President Robert Britto, Council Vice President Bob Rodericks, School Committee Chair Charles Tsonas, Dir. of Administration Napoleon Gonsalves, East Providence Fire Chief/EMA Dir. Glenn Quick, East Providence Fire Battalion Chief Michael Carey and Capt. John Potvin, East Providence Police Capt. James Nelson and Dir. of School Facilities and Security Tony Feola met on Sunday, March 1 st to discuss the city’s response on the latest developments from the RIDOH on the first
presumptive case of Coronavirus in Rode Island. The City has been in communication with the RIDOH and Governor’s Office and adhering to all guidelines provided by both offices.

The city of East Providence, together with the East Providence School Department, have taken
action to educate school administrators, families and the community at large of the precautionary steps including:

• Continued sanitation and cleaning of all East Providence schools
• Daily sanitation of all East Providence school busses
• Frequent hand washing
• Use of hand sanitizer between hand washing
• Cleaning of desks and other hard surfaces
• Reminding students to cough and sneeze in elbow
• Proper disposal of tissues
• Reminders to not share personal items, food and drinks

Because human coronaviruses most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, Rhode
Islanders are reminded to take the same measures that healthcare providers recommend annually
to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses.
Rhode Island Department of Health advises the following:

• Get your flu shot, and make sure the people around you do the same.
• Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water
are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other
people or into your hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick. - Avoid touching
your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and
eat nutritious foods.
• Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children)
clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.
The Center for Diseases Control advises the following:
• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect
themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
• You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it.
• A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms.
This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected.

If you are ill with flu-like symptom (coughing, sneezing, fever, muscle or body aches), officials
are urging you to stay home.

If you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of
COVID-19 and you have symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, shortness of breath), reach out
to your healthcare provider and call ahead before going to a healthcare facility. The healthcare
provider or facility will work closely with RIDOH.