Potential case of COVID-19 in our school community

5/5/2021 12:57 PM

Dear I.S. 024 Myra S. Barnes at 750 DURANT AVENUE Community:

I hope you are staying healthy and safe. Today I am writing to inform you of a potential case of COVID-19 in our school community, and to let you know what will happen now.

Next steps:

We are working in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health) to confirm test results. At this time there are no plans for classroom or school building closures, and students should continue to attend as regularly scheduled unless they are feeling ill. If a positive test result is confirmed, you will receive another update.

What if the case is confirmed?

In partnership with NYC Health and the NYC Test + Trace Corps, we will take all appropriate action, including:

· Ensuring that the individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 quarantines until they are no longer infectious, and it is safe for them to return to the school building.

· Working with to trace close contacts in our school.

· Instructing close contacts to quarantine for 10 days since their last contact with the individual who tested positive.

Please be reassured that we are taking every precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including ensuring that anyone who feels sick in the school building can isolate. Our school has an isolation room where a student with symptoms associated with COVID-19 can be safely isolated and evaluated by a healthcare professional until they are picked up by a guardian.

It’s up to all of us to help keep our school community safe and healthy. Please continue to stay home if sick, stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household, wear a face covering, and practice healthy hand hygiene.

We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts, and proactively update you on any measures we are taking. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311.

Finally, to ensure we can rapidly reach you via text and email, please set up a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what.