Dear Port Jervis Learning Community,
We have been informed this afternoon that two staff members and one student of the Port Jervis City School District have tested positive for COVID-19. The two staff members are assigned to Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School and the student attends Port Jervis High School.
The High School student last attended on November 3, 2020. There are no proximate contacts in the school setting for this student. One of the staff members from HBE was last in the school building on December 1, 2020, and there were no proximate or direct contacts in the school setting for this employee. The second staff member last reported to HBE on December 10, 2020. There were a limited number of proximate or direct contacts. All individuals that were determined to be contacts were notified by school personnel and informed of the need to quarantine pending contact from Orange County Department of Health.
The most important things you can do:
- Make sure your child is wearing a mask.
- Make sure your child is washing their hands.
- Keep your child home if they are sick.
- Call your primary care provider if you or your child has symptoms of COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
A new coronavirus causes COVID-19, which is an illness that was discovered in 2019. Coronaviruses are a type of virus that are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. There are many kinds of coronaviruses including some that cause respiratory illnesses, like the common cold. The specific symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads mainly from having close contact with someone who has a COVID-19 infection. The virus is thought to spread by droplets from person to person when they speak, cough, or sneeze. Droplets travel less than 6 feet. When droplets from another person get in your mouth or nose you can inhale into your lungs. This virus can be spread by people without symptoms.
How can parents and guardians help prevent COVID-19 from spreading?
- If your child is sick, keep them home.
- Make sure members of your household wash their hands often using soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Make sure every member of your household covers their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow, and then washes their hands afterwards.
- Wear a mask in public when you cannot stay 6 feet apart from other people.
We are working with the Health Department to keep our community safe.
- We continue to follow the Health Department’s guidance for childcare.
- We cleaned and disinfected the school buildings per the New York State Department of Health guidance.
- Employees and sick children will not return to work until they are healthy and cleared by a healthcare provider.
Thank you for understanding the fact that due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the name or names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate changes and updates with you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2330.
Sincerely,
Mike Rydell
Superintendent of Schools