The Houston Independent School District is augmenting its cleaning and sanitization efforts as a precautionary measure as officials continue to monitor the potential impact of COVID-19. 

HISD has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, acting out of an abundance of caution, the district issued a 14-day self-quarantine for several individuals, all of whom recently returned from a country on the CDC travel warning list or are closely related to someone who did.  

Impacted schools are being deep cleaned and sanitized as a precautionary measure. This includes fogging all rooms with CDC-recommended disinfectant and cleaning all air ducts, a common practice for potential cases of airborne viruses.  

HISD has contracted with two commercial cleaning companies to assist, as needed, with deep cleaning and sanitization efforts. 

For all other schools, HISD is continuing to follow its standard procedure for routine cleaning and disinfection of schools, with special emphasis placed on disinfection of door handles, desks, chairs, tables, cabinets, restrooms, sinks, water fountains, and other frequently touched areas, as suggested by local and state health officials and the Texas Education Agency. The district already uses antimicrobial floor wax as standard practice.  

Custodial teams also are making sure all schools and buildings are properly stocked with needed supplies, including soap, paper towels and toilet paper. Surplus supplies also have been ordered and are on-hand, should schools need to be quickly re-stocked.  

Campus custodial staff should continue to follow the standard process for re-ordering supplies, as needed. If a campus is completely out of supplies, the plant operator should contact his or her supervisor for an immediate delivery, which also is standard process. 

All school cleaning is done by in-house and contract custodial crews. Any additional cleaning and disinfecting supplies for teachers to have on hand in their classrooms must be ordered at the campus level.  

School bus sanitization also is taking place. Custodial mangers are training transportation staff on proper cleaning and sanitization methods, and custodial crews are providing bus cleaning assistance, as needed. 

For ongoing updates and information, visit HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts.