The City School District of Albany was notified Thursday of 15 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. All positive individuals are quarantining at home. The Albany County Health Department identified no additional contacts with any of these cases unless otherwise noted.
As a reminder for families that have picked up or will pick up a COVID-19 test kit this week, please follow the testing guidance that you received with your kit; that information also is available at www.albanyschools.org. If your student tests positive, please be sure to report that result to the county health department using this form: https://forms.albanycounty.com/Forms/dcu8G.
One case involves the district’s administrative offices at Academy Park. The individual was last in the building on Jan. 3.
One case involves 11th grade at Albany High School, and the individual was last in school Jan. 4. The health department identified nine additional contacts with the case; of those, five are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
Four cases are associated with Giffen Memorial Elementary School.
- One case involves an individual who was last in school Jan. 5. The health department identified 32 additional contacts with the case.
- Another case involves an individual who was last in school Jan. 5. In this case, the health department identified 40 additional contacts. Of those, seven are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- One case involves fourth grade, and the individual was last in school Jan. 5. The health department identified eight additional contacts with the case; of those, three are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- Another case also involves fourth grade, and the individual was last in school Jan. 3. The health department identified nine additional contacts; of those, four are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
One case is associated with New Scotland Elementary School. The individual was last in school Jan. 5, and the health department identified four additional contacts; all are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
Two cases are associated with Pine Hills Elementary School.
- One case involves kindergarten, and the individual who was last in school Jan. 3. The health department identified five additional contacts with the case; of those, three are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- One case involves third grade, and the individual was last in school Dec. 21.
Five cases are associated with Sheridan Preparatory Academy.
- One individual is associated with kindergarten and was last in school Jan. 5. The health department identified seven additional contacts with the case; of those, two are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- One individual is associated with prekindergarten and was last in school Jan. 4. The health department identified 11 additional contacts with the case; of those, two are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- One individual was last in school Jan. 3. The health department identified three additional contacts with the case; of those, two are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- Another individual also was last in school Jan. 3. The health department identified 15 additional contacts with the case; of those, two are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
- Another individual was last in school Dec. 22.
Thursday’s 15th and final case is associated with Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), and the individual was last in school Jan. 4. The health department identified 12 additional contacts with the case; of those, five are vaccinated and not required to quarantine.
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:
- Maintain social distance at all times from those you don’t live with.
- 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.
- Wash hands with soap and water frequently when out of your home. If you cannot use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Don’t touch the eyes, nose or mouth unless your hands are clean.
- 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.
- You also can find resources here:
- In alignment with the recommendations of federal, state and local health and medical professionals, the City School District of Albany strongly encourages everyone 5 and older who is eligible and able to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
- You can find information about COVID-19 vaccinations on the Albany County Health Department website:
