10/7/2021
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 closure, 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 & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the NYC Test + Trace Corps, we will take all appropriate action, including:
● Ensuring that any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 quarantines until they are no longer infectious, and it is safe for them to return to the school building.
● Work to trace close contacts in our school.
● Instruct close contacts to quarantine for 10 days since their last contact with the individual who tested positive (unless they are fully vaccinated).
Please be assured that we are taking every precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including ensuring that anyone who feels sick in the school building isolates. 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.
All New Yorkers age 12 or older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. If someone is fully vaccinated they do not have to miss school, sports or work if there is a case in their classroom. People who are between 12 and 17 years old are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only; all older ages are eligible for all three vaccines. Find a vaccine site today at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/. There is no cost to be vaccinated.
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.
Sincerely,
Lenny Santamaria
Principal