October 11, 2022

Dear Parents and Community Members,

In cooperation with the Fairfax County Health Department, we are sending this letter to inform you that an outbreak* of several cases of COVID-19 in a single classroom has been identified at Common Ground. This outbreak will be posted on the Virginia Department of Health Dashboard. Individuals with COVID-19 have been isolated from in-person care as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Fairfax County Health Department. Our school remains open to all other staff and students.

Parents should continue to monitor their child’s health and the health of their families for COVID-19 symptoms. Children with COVID-19 generally have mild, cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported in some children. It is important that children with symptoms of COVID-19 stay home from school and get tested to stop further spread from occurring.

The COVID-19 cases in your child’s daycare and in the community are a reminder how important it is for everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others, whether in daycare or in public places. Vaccination of children 6 months of age and above is an important tool to protect against COVID-19 and reduce the spread of infection in our schools and community. Visit https://www.vaccines.gov to find locations to receive a vaccination. Additional recommendations to prevent COVID-19 are provided here.

If you have questions regarding this information, please contact your health care provider or me, either by email liz@commongroundchildcare.org or phone/text or ADMIN message in Brightwheel.

Liz Badley

Executive Director

Common Ground Childcare

*A COVID outbreak is defined as multiple facility-associated COVID-19 cases making up at least 3 cases within a specified core group, occurring within 14-days of each other and not associated with exposure in another setting outside of the facility (such as a household). A core group may be a classroom, extracurricular activity, cohort group, before/after school care, etc.