Columbia Heights Public Schools (CHPS) continues to monitor the developments with the coronavirus disease, now being called COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before. COVID-19 is not caused by the same coronavirus that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012. However, it is in the same family of viruses. Because this is a new virus, there are still things we do not know, such as how severe the illness can be, how well it is transmitted between people, and other features of the virus. More information will be provided when it is available through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

We want CHPS students, families, and staff to know that we are in communication with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to have the most up-to-date information and to implement district and school protocols as needed.

*Please refer to MDH and MDE for your most up-to-date resource.