Dear City School District of New Rochelle Family,
Today, we were informed that two individuals at William B. Ward Elementary School have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The individuals were at the school while possibly infectious. By law, we must maintain the confidentiality of all infectious persons, which prevents us from further identifying the individuals.
The Westchester County Department of Health has a contact-tracing system in place when a confirmed COVID-19 case is reported. The purpose of this system is to identify persons who have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are being contacted by staff at William B. Ward Elementary School. District nurses will share contact information with the Westchester County Department of Health. New York State Department of Health contact tracers are expected to communicate during the contact-tracing process with the impacted individuals.
If either your William B. Ward Elementary School child, or you as an employee, is identified as a close contact of the persons who tested positive, you will receive a call from a Westchester County Department of Health contact tracer. Persons who will be contacted will see “NYS Contact Tracing” or a “518” area code appear on the caller ID of their phone. If you should see one of these identifiers, you are strongly urged to answer the call immediately and cooperate with the contact tracer. Your cooperation and prompt response will help protect us all.
If you do not receive notification within the next 36 hours, your child may not be at risk of COVID-19 exposure while at William B. Ward Elementary School. The same holds true for faculty, staff, and school administrators. Please note: The school remains open for teaching and learning.
Besides following all Westchester County Department of Health protocols for contact tracing and self-quarantine, William B. Ward Elementary School will be disinfected and sanitized following New York State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. As a reminder, it is important for everyone in our school community to continue following preventive measures, listed below, to limit the spread of infection:
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash hands often with soap and water, or >60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer, for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with the “inside of your bent elbow” and properly dispose of tissues.
- Limit contact with people who are sick.
- Do not share food, drinks, or utensils.
- Practice social distancing (stay at least 6 feet apart) and limit social gatherings.
- Continue to monitor your health for symptoms.
Our District flowchart provides guidance on when students or staff should remain home. Should you have any questions about this situation, please feel free to contact your school nurse or building administrator.
Sincerely,
