Nov. 18 COVID-19 cases

  • Posted November 18, 2021
City School District of Albany

The City School District of Albany was notified Thursday of 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The individuals and their unvaccinated contacts are quarantining at home.

The first three cases are associated with 11th grade at Albany High School:

  • The first individual was last in school on Nov. 15. The Albany County Health Department identified five additional contacts with the case; three are vaccinated and do not require quarantine.
  • The second individual was last in school Nov. 16. The health department identified seven additional contacts with the case; two are vaccinated and do not require quarantine.
  • The third individual was last in school Nov. 12. The health department identified seven additional contacts with the case; two are vaccinated and do not require quarantine.

The fourth case is associated with third grade at Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy. The individual was last in school Nov. 16. The health department identified 21 additional contacts; two are vaccinated and do not require quarantine.

The fifth case is associated with fourth grade at New Scotland Elementary School. The individual was last in school Nov. 12 and the health department identified no additional contacts.

The sixth and seventh cases are associated with Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST):

  • The sixth case is associated with third grade and the individual was last in school Nov. 12. The Albany County Health Department identified 13 additional contacts with the case; two are vaccinated and do not require quarantine. As a result, the affected third-grade classroom has switched to distance learning and will return in-person Nov. 23.
  • The seventh case is associated with first grade and the individual was last in school Nov. 10. The health department identified 10 additional contacts with the case; five are vaccinated and do not require quarantine.

The eighth case is associated with seventh grade at William S. Hackett Middle School. The individual was last in the building Nov. 12. The health department identified no additional contacts.

Thursday’s last two cases involve people who were on First Student buses. One bus serves the Center for Disability Services’ Kevin G. Langan School in Albany and Maywood School in Colonie and there are no additional contacts. The other bus serves Albany High School, Giffen Memorial Elementary School and TOAST; the case resulted in quarantine of 44 unvaccinated contacts.

Health and safety procedures at all district buildings continue to include cleaning and sanitizing. We will continue with these procedures, and also will continue to follow all required COVID-19 precautions (wearing masks inside all district buildings, hand hygiene, social distancing of 3 feet or more in all classrooms, and other precautions).

We also would like to remind everyone of steps you can take to help be safe:

  1. Maintain social distance at all times from those you don’t live with.
  2. Always wear a mask that covers both the mouth and nose when inside at school or when your student is riding a bus to or from school.
  3. Wash hands with soap and water frequently when out of your home. If you cannot use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  4. Don’t touch the eyes, nose or mouth unless your hands are clean.
  5. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE SICK OR HAVE SYMPTOMS:
  • Signs of COVID-19 are: fever, fatigue/tiredness, muscle/body aches or pains, congestion, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea, headache, loss of taste or smell, rash, feeling sick or unwell in any way.
  • You can get a COVID-19 test by calling the New York State Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 364-3065, or Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center at (518) 407-0172 or (518) 465-4771.
  • In alignment with the recommendations of federal, state and local health and medical professionals, the City School District of Albany strongly encourages everyone 12 and older who is eligible and able to get a COVID-19 vaccination.