The City School District of Albany was notified of seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from April 6-19.
Two cases involve Edmund J. O’Neal School of Excellence, and neither is associated with a grade. One person was last in school on April 17, and the other was last in school on March 30.
One case involves Giffen Memorial Elementary School. The person is not associated with a grade and was last in school on April 7.
Two cases involve New Scotland Elementary School. One case is associated with first grade, and the person was last in school March 29. The other case involves a person not associated with a grade who was last in school on March 27.
One case involves Tony Clement Center for Education. The person is not associated with a grade and was last in school on April 6.
The last case involves William S. Hackett Middle School. The person is not associated with a grade and was in school on April 6.
Please be reminded that schools no longer are required to quarantine individuals who in the past were identified as contacts of a person who tests positive. We now identify anyone within a 6-foot radius of a positive individual as having been exposed and provide notification to that individual or, in the case of a student, their parent or guardian. We will continue to report positive cases.
Health and safety procedures continue at all district buildings and on buses, including cleaning and sanitizing. We also would like to remind everyone of steps you can take to help be safe:
1. Masks are optional in all school buildings in New York and, in our school district, on First Student buses and CDTA buses that transport students. (See Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Sept. 7 announcement that masking will now be optional in multiple settings where they were previously required, including on public transportation.) The district will respect the personal decision of all individuals and families regarding wearing masks in settings where they are optional.
2. Wash hands with soap and water frequently when out of your home. If you cannot use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
3. Don’t touch the eyes, nose or mouth unless your hands are clean.
4. 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.
- Please notify your school nurse if you are keeping your child home from school with symptoms; you can find that contact information on your school’s web page.
5. We continue to encourage everyone who is able and eligible to get vaccinated.
- The Albany County Health Department offers frequent opportunities for free COVID-19 vaccinations in a variety of locations. You can learn more at https://www.albanycounty.com/departments/health/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccination
- To find additional locations near you, visit www.vaccines.gov or call 800-232-0233.