12/6/2021 7:13 PM

Subject: Confirmed Case of COVID-19: Close Contacts Quarantined

Dear P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeoneat 80-55 CORNISH AVENUE Community:

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the NYC Test + Trace Corps (T2) have determined that a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19 and may have exposed others while at school.

Below you will find guidance on next steps that will help keep you, your child, and our school community healthy and safe. The information below reflects the expertise of DOHMH, T2, and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

What Happens Now?

• Students and staff who are considered close contacts of the individual who tested positive have been notified of the need to quarantine for 10 days from their last contact with the person who tested positive. These students and staff will transition to fully remote teaching and learning for this period.
• T2 and DOHMH will complete their investigation to identify and notify any other close contacts in the building, who will also need to quarantine for 10 days.
• Any staff or students who are fully vaccinated OR students who were recently (within the past three months) diagnosed with COVID-19 and finished isolation in the past 90 days will NOT need to quarantine as long as they have no COVID-19 symptoms. People who are fully vaccinated have received both shots of a two shot regimen or one shot of a single shot regimen and 14 days or more have elapsed since their last shot.
• Unvaccinated students and staff who are considered close contacts may test out of quarantine in order to return to their classrooms on the eighth day of quarantine. In order to do so, students should take a COVID-19 test on their fifth day of quarantine in order to re-enter class on the eighth day. Students must submit proof of a negative test through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal, or by submitting the result to the school on paper or electronically.
• Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test will not return to the school until they are no longer infectious.
• All areas visited by the person with COVID-19 will be deep cleaned, disinfected, and reopened.
• If your child is feeling sick, keep them at home.

How do we stay healthy?

All New Yorkers age 5 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 5 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.

Please remember to follow these important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission:  

1. Stay home if sick (except to get essential medical care, including COVID-19 testing).
2. Practice social distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.
3. Wear a face covering to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
4. Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching your face; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

How can I stay updated?

We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking. To ensure we can reach you via text and email, please create a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.

To help New Yorkers quarantine, the NYC Test + Trace Corps partners with community-based organizations to connect individuals to resources like food, medicine, and health care.  To connect with resources, you can call 1-212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311.  

Sincerely,

Robert Aiello

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12/6/2021 7:13 PM    

Dear Member of the P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeoneat 80-55 CORNISH AVENUE Community:

In this letter you will find information about when students and staff can return to school after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This guidance reflects the expertise of the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and the NYC Test + Trace Corps (T2).

When Is It Safe to Return to the School Building?

Any student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school only after:

• Isolating for 10 days AND  
• Being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND 
• Is experiencing overall improvement in symptoms

Please note:

• For people with symptoms, the infectious period generally begins two days before symptoms start and continues for ten days from when symptoms begin.
• For people with no symptoms (asymptomatic), the infectious period is estimated to begin two days before COVID-19 testing to ten days after testing.
• A person may continue to receive a positive COVID-19 test result for up to three months even though they are no longer infectious.

If a student or staff member showed symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19, they can return to school only after:

• Being fever free 24 hours without the use of medication AND
• Overall symptoms are improving 

If a student or staff member did not get tested for COVID-19 but showed symptoms, they can return to school only after:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms started AND 
• They have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND 
• Overall symptoms are improving

If a student or staff member is considered a close contact of an individual who has tested positive, and is experiencing no COVID-19 symptoms, they can return to school only:

• After quarantining for 10 days since their last exposure to the case OR

If they are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 OR were recently (within the past three months) diagnosed with COVID-19 and finished isolation in the past 90 days. To be considered fully vaccinated by CDC guidelines, two weeks must have passed since you received the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks must have passed since you received a single-dose vaccine.

• Students and staff who are not fully vaccinated and who are considered close contacts may test out of quarantine to return to their classrooms on the eighth day of quarantine . In order to do so, students should take a lab-administered COVID-19 test on or after their fifth day of quarantine to re-enter class on the eighth day. Students must submit proof of a negative lab test through the DOE’s COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by submitting the result to the school on paper or electronically.
• Close contacts who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Once you have recovered from symptoms, get vaccinated.

As of September 27, 2021, all DOE employees, as well as DOE/City contractors in DOE buildings, are required to provide proof that they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. If you have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine as of September 27, 2021, you are expected to receive the 2nd dose within 45 days of the first dose to remain compliant, according to the order issued by the Commissioner of Health. You must submit proof of vaccination using the DOE’s Vaccination Portal.

All New Yorkers age 5 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 5 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.

How can I stay updated?

To help New Yorkers quarantine, the NYC Test + Trace Corps partners with community-based organizations to connect individuals to resources like food, medicine, and health care.  To connect with resources, you can call 1-212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311. 

Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what.

Sincerely,

Robert Aiello

11/24/2021 1:56 PM

Dear P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeoneat 80-55 CORNISH 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 next.

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 or have recovered from a confirmed case of COVID during the last 90 days).

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 until they can leave the school.

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 5 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 5 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, 

Robert Aiello

---

11/24/2021 1:56 PM    

Dear Member of the P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeoneat 80-55 CORNISH AVENUE Community:

In this letter you will find information about when students and staff can return to school after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This guidance reflects the expertise of the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and the NYC Test + Trace Corps (T2).

When Is It Safe to Return to the School Building?

Any student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school only after:

• Isolating for 10 days AND  
• Being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND 
• Is experiencing overall improvement in symptoms

Please note:

• For people with symptoms, the infectious period generally begins two days before symptoms start and continues for ten days from when symptoms begin.
• For people with no symptoms (asymptomatic), the infectious period is estimated to begin two days before COVID-19 testing to ten days after testing.
• A person may continue to receive a positive COVID-19 test result for up to three months even though they are no longer infectious.

If a student or staff member showed symptoms but tested negative for COVID-19, they can return to school only after:

• Being fever free 24 hours without the use of medication AND
• Overall symptoms are improving 

If a student or staff member did not get tested for COVID-19 but showed symptoms, they can return to school only after:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms started AND 
• They have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND 
• Overall symptoms are improving

If a student or staff member is considered a close contact of an individual who has tested positive, and is experiencing no COVID-19 symptoms, they can return to school only:

• After quarantining for 10 days since their last exposure to the case OR

If they are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 OR were recently (within the past three months) diagnosed with COVID-19 and finished isolation in the past 90 days. To be considered fully vaccinated by CDC guidelines, two weeks must have passed since you received the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks must have passed since you received a single-dose vaccine.

• Students and staff who are not fully vaccinated and who are considered close contacts may test out of quarantine to return to their classrooms on the eighth day of quarantine . In order to do so, students should take a lab-administered COVID-19 test on or after their fifth day of quarantine to re-enter class on the eighth day. Students must submit proof of a negative lab test through the DOE’s COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by submitting the result to the school on paper or electronically.
• Close contacts who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate, even if they are fully vaccinated.

Once you have recovered from symptoms, get vaccinated.

As of September 27, 2021, all DOE employees, as well as DOE/City contractors in DOE buildings, are required to provide proof that they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. If you have received only the first dose of a 2-dose vaccine as of September 27, 2021, you are expected to receive the 2nd dose within 45 days of the first dose to remain compliant, according to the order issued by the Commissioner of Health. You must submit proof of vaccination using the DOE’s Vaccination Portal.

All New Yorkers age 5 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 5 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.

How can I stay updated?

To help New Yorkers quarantine, the NYC Test + Trace Corps partners with community-based organizations to connect individuals to resources like food, medicine, and health care.  To connect with resources, you can call 1-212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311. 

Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what.

Sincerely,

Robert Aiello