Mt. San Jacinto College has been advised by Riverside County public health officials that school closures for cases of H1N1 flu are no longer recommended. Public health officials have said the risk level to our communities have been significantly reducedMSJC officials would like to thank all of you for your understanding and cooperation in following protocols during the height of the H1N1 flu warnings. MSJC urges you to continue to practice prudent efforts outlined in the college’s first communication about the flu. To view the document, click here: http://www.msjc.edu/forms/news.asp?Q=884

The updated recommendations are in accordance with new guidance released today
by the national Centers for Disease Control that no longer suggests school
closures if students are sick from swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus for its
scientific name.

The county Department of Public Health continues to recommend that any people
who have flu-like symptoms stay home from work or school to avoid passing any
illness unto others. People who cover their nose and mouth during a cough or
sneeze and everyone should wash their hands regularly.

The easing of school closure recommendations is being done because most
national cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus have not been severe, according to
CDC officials. Anyone who feels ill and suspects it may be flu is still urged
to stay home for at least seven days after they develop symptoms.  

Federal and county public health officials continue to recommend that any
students, faculty or staff that arrives to school with influenza symptoms be
sent home. Students who are sick should stay home and not be sent to
alternative day care or any extracurricular school activities.  

Schools are also recommended to:

• Help serve as a focus for educational activities aimed at promoting
  ways to reduce the spread of influenza, including hand hygiene and cough
  etiquette.
• Students, faculty and staff should stringently follow sanitary
  measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and
  mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into
  their sleeve if a tissue isn't available), frequently washing hands with soap
  and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not
  possible.

Information is updated regularly on the county's swine flu Web page at
http://news.co.riverside.ca.us/swineflu/. Additional information is
available on the CDC site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. Residents with further
questions can call the state's public health hotline at (888) 865-0564. Any
calls to the county's swine flu hotline will be directed to the state
information center.