COVID-19

This guidance provides best practice considerations for our school for the 2022-2023 school year to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among students and staff.

Here is the guidance updated on August 23, 2022:

Vaccination: It is the best way to reduce COVID-19 risk. Encourage up to date COVID-19 vaccination for everyone six months or older.

• Visit the vaccine finder page or call 877-829-4692 to find a location near you.
• Up to date includes boosters for everyone who is eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people. See At-A-Glance COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules (cdc.gov)

Vaccination Requirements:

• Vaccination is still required for all visitors entering school buildings
• Vaccination is still required for all DOE employees
• Vaccination is still required for other individuals who work in DOE buildings
• Vaccinations is still required to participate in high-risk extracurricular activities including high-risk PSAL sports 

Daily Health Screener: No longer required to enter school buildings 

• Stay home if sick: Students and staff should stay home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses and get tested for COVID-19 
• Isolate if COVID-19 positive: Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days and can return to school on day 6 if they have no symptoms or symptoms are improving. They must wear a mask until day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier. These cases should be reported to the main office as soon  as possible (929) 348-4960. 
• Get tested if exposed to COVID-19: Students and staff who are exposed to COVID-19 should get tested.  These individuals should receive home tests from their school and take two tests, at least 24 hours apart on day 4 and day 5 of their exposure. All exposed individuals should monitor for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after their exposure. If symptoms begin, they should not attend school and should isolate and get tested for COVID-19 again right away.
• Testing: In-school PCR surveillance testing will not be a part of the 2022-23 school year. Schools will offer home test kits to those with a potential in-school exposure and those with symptoms. In addition, each staff and student will receive 4 tests per month to take home. These tests can be used by school families for testing due to symptoms, exposures, high-risk activity (such as travel and large gatherings), and can give staff and students immediate results. 

Situation Room: Schools will be required to report positive cases of COVID-19 to the situation room.

• The Situation Room will provide schools with standardized communications for their communities and will notify school communities of cases in their schools through daily email and the Daily COVID map. 

Masking: Face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn when indoors. 

• Masks will be made available at the school for all those who need/want them.
• Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear mask when: 

– Returning to school on the sixth day after testing positive for COVID-19, through day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier, including when traveling on a school bus.

• Entering the school medical room, nurse’s office, or school-based health center.
• Exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
• Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are strongly recommended to wear a mask:

– When they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, whether the exposure occurred in school or outside of school. The person should wear a mask for 10 days after their last day of exposure and get tested at least 24 hours apart on day 4 and day 5 of their exposure.

– When they are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised, masking is recommended by their healthcare provider.

– In crowded indoor settings 

Ventilation:

• Air ventilators in every classroom
• Monitoring ventilation in buildings on a daily basis and perform any required work in a timely manner HVAC upgrades in alignment with CDC guidance, including 110,000 MERV-13 filters installed

School Building Cleaning: Routine cleaning of surfaces will be maintained.

• All classrooms and common areas such as the cafeteria and gymnasium will have hand sanitizer, wipes and soap. 
• Students will clean their hands throughout the day with provided soap and hand sanitizer.

School Closure:

• Schools will be closed only when it is determined by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) that there is widespread transmission in the school. With the health and safety measures in place, we expect that school closures will be limited.
• To learn about what to do if your child tests positive see the Home Rapid Test Kits page.
• View the Daily COVID19 Case Map.

We look forward to working with you to ensure our students are provided a safe and healthy school environment.  If you have any questions or concerns about this guidance you can email assistant principal, Jane Tiernan, Tiernan@ps583.net.