Amerigo COVID-19 Updates
Amerigo January 2022 COVID Update
Dear Amerigo Parents,
We hope this note finds you and your family well.
With the recent surge of COVID across the US, we understand that your student’s safety and wellbeing is at the top of your mind.
The current surge is driven by the new Omnicron variant, which scientific researchers have discovered is more contagious but much less severe than previous variants. A recent story by the New York Times found that those infected with Omnicron are far less likely to have a severe case of COVID requiring hospitalization. Additionally, the CDC permits all vaccinated individuals to resume life as normal, including attending school and social functions.
We are proud of the level of care and support we have been able to provide our students throughout the entirety of the pandemic. While many schools and host family programs closed their doors, we stayed fully open and allowed our students to continue with their studies. We continue to follow the same “Students’ Safety First” principle to ensure the highest level of care to our students.
CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND SCHOOLS
Our strong partnership with local health authorities and schools lay a solid foundation for our timely and effective protocols. Each of our partner schools are adopting effective COVID protocols and procedures based on guidelines developed by government and medical authorities, as well as local pandemic environment. These protocols include mandatory mask wearing, social distancing, strict contact tracing, frequent testing, deep cleaning and more.
REGULAR HEALTH CHECK-INS WITH OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF
We closely monitor all students and staff members at each of our campuses. Our staff follow a routine wellness check-in process with each of our students to ensure they continue to stay healthy. Staff are required to report to their managers immediately if they experience any COVID-like symptoms and are instructed to stay at home until it is confirmed that they are COVID-free. In addition to contactless thermometer, we will also use oximeter to monitor students’ health.
SAFE QUARANTINE PROCEDURE
When a student tests positive for COVID, they are immediately placed into isolated quarantine rooms. They are required to stay in a separate room throughout the quarantine period. They are also strictly required to avoid in-person contact with other students and staff. Students in quarantine receive healthy meals, snacks, medicine and cleaning supplies, as well as academic and emotional support virtually from staff.
While I deeply empathize with your concerns, we ask that you trust Amerigo in making every effort to ensure your child’s health and safety. In addition to other supplies, we are also in the process to purchase Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc to provide to students to aid a speedy recovery.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Campus Director or our in-country Student Experience Manager via email, Seesaw or WeChat.
You can also reach the Student Experience Team via studentservices@amerigoeducation.com.
Thank you,
Di Hu, Dean of Student Experience
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Travel
Amerigo has been actively working closely with the leadership teams at each of our partner schools, alongside medical experts. Together, we believe that it’s better to have your students remain at the school and their Amerigo residence. Below, we will address some Frequently Asked Questions regarding student travel.
Should I fly my child home?
We understand your concerns regarding the global COVID-19 situation. Please understand that your child’s safety and well-being are our top priority. While it may seem like a good option to remove your child from the United States, it’s in their best interest to stay in the country and at the Amerigo residence, for both their health and their academics.
What risks should I consider if I decide to fly my child home?
The United States is currently at a similar stage with the virus that China was in in January. The country has emerging cases of COVID-19. However, medical advice stresses that the best way to avoid the virus is to stay at home and avoid those who have been possibly infected. If your child travels home, they will be potentially exposed to the virus in public places including airports and airplanes.
What are the potential risks if my child were to leave America?
Any partner school campus closures would be temporary, with the schools re-opening once it is safe to do so. If your child leaves the country, there is a possibility that he or she would not be able to return once the campus re-opens. This would push them behind in their studies. There are instances in China of people returning from America and other countries being placed in government-mandated quarantine for 2+ weeks. Also, if your child returned to America after the school re-opens, they would potentially be quarantined for 2+ weeks upon their return. This means your child could possibly be quarantined for more than 4 weeks total.
As parents, how can I support the important work Amerigo does to take care of my child?
The most important thing you can do is keep calm, avoid misinformation on unreliable Internet accounts, and trust that Amerigo staff members are working around the clock to ensure your child’s health, safety and well-being. You can support your child over the phone by comforting them and ensuring them that this will be okay.
I heard that the United States declared a State of Emergency. What did that mean?
The act allows the president access to tens of billions of dollars to stop an emergency situation that would have otherwise been spent differently.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Amerigo is committed to keeping our campuses healthy where our students can continue to learn and thrive as students and scholars. Therefore, we have developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be used and followed on all campuses to prevent and prepare for the spread of COVID-19.
Protective measures against the new coronavirus—students and staff have been advised of the following practices:
Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever students return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.
Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each dorm entrance AND in school vans to be used after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when hand washing is unavailable.
If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more.
With regards to cleaning services, we have either increased the deep cleaning of our dorms to twice weekly or have done more intense cleaning of our dorms with the regular schedule. In addition, our residence staff are wiping down counters, doorknobs, etc. on a daily basis with disinfectant wipes.
Campus Supplies
We have stocked our campuses with the following supplies:
Disposable surgical masks: while guidance from the global medical community indicates that masks are not effective in protecting from COVID-19, some parents and students have expressed the desire to have them on hand. As such, we have masks for all campuses on order and are awaiting shipment.
Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when shopping and all outside activity
Disinfectant spray
Hand sanitizers which are alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to maximize effectiveness
Zinc lozenges which have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in the throat and nasopharynx
Cold medicine, pain relievers and sore throat lozenges
Increased educational information on signs in dorms about best practices in keeping health
Tissues, toilet paper and paper towels
Extra food, water and drinks like tea
Two weeks ago, we began a series of regular correspondence with our parents informing them of all the steps we are taking to ensure their children’s safety. As of today, we are moving to daily communication with our parents.
Support
For more public health information on COVID-19, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Situation Summary.
Know that the health and safety of our students is our top priority. Please let me know if you have questions on our response to this dynamic and challenging time.
Kind Regards,
Craig Pines Chief Executive Officer, Amerigo Education