With Covid-19 (the Coronavirus) starting to move into Rhode Island, officials in the Bristol Warren Regional School District are taking steps to protect students and staff from contracting the potentially fatal illness.

On Monday, crews canvassed all high traffic areas in each district school and sprayed them with a disinfecting solution containing hydrogen peroxide. Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Brice said the applications on those areas (stair railings, door knobs, handles, lunch tables, keyboards, other shared technology and the like) will continue in each school on a rotating basis, with each school being treated every other day, until further notice.

Meanwhile, every classroom in the district is being outfitted with hand sanitizing dispensers, and are being checked daily to make sure they are full. And all district students have been given information on the importance of hand-washing and hand sanitation, either through mini-lessons in the lower grade levels to online updates for the older students.

On Monday, Dr. Brice said that so far, “we don’t have any confirmed cases as far as I know, but this could change at any time.”

He said the district is working with the Rhode Island Department of Health to monitor the situation both locally and statewide.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus was identified last week as a staff member at Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket. Staff and students at that school had recently returned from a class trip to Italy, one of the coronavirus’s hotbeds.