COVID-19

Symptoms

If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever of 100.0 degrees F or greater, a new cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell or shortness of breath that started in the past 10 days they must remain home. They can return to school if they have received a negative result from a COVID-19 diagnostic test performed by a health care provider OR received two negative results from a take home test taken at least 24 hours apart since the onset of symptoms AND have only mild symptoms (no runny nose; if cough, cough minimal and non-productive; fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication). 

Dear MS 217 Community:

The health and safety of our students and staff, and everyone in the DOE family across the city, is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring you have the information you need on COVID-19 as we continue to navigate this public health emergency together. If at any time there is a confirmed positive COVID-19 case in our school community, we will work with NYC Health and the NYC Test + Trace Corps to quickly take all appropriate action, including tracing close contacts. Any close contacts will be instructed to quarantine for 10 days since their last contact with the individual who tested positive. Out of an abundance of caution, our building will be cleaned and disinfected.

According to the New York City Department of Education website, the following will take place whenever there is a confirmed COVID-19 case in any NYCDOE school.

Positive Cases: Closure and Quarantine

We know how important it is to keep our schools and classrooms open for learning, and we have done everything we can to make sure our classrooms are equipped to be safe learning environments, including mandating that all staff are vaccinated and ensuring increased ventilation in all school buildings and classrooms. These measures will mean fewer disruptions in your child’s education.

As of Monday, September 27, 2021, the DOE no longer automatically closes an entire classroom when there is a positive student case in that class. Students who are wearing face coverings and have maintained at least 3 feet of distance in a classroom from a student who tests positive will not be considered close contacts and will not have to quarantine.

Schools will be closed only when it is determined by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) that there is widespread transmission in the school. With the health and safety measures in place, we expect that school closures will be limited.

Students Identified as Close Contacts in a COVID-19 Case

Who will now be considered a close contact of a positive case and therefore will need to quarantine?

A close contact is:

• Any student within three feet of a student with COVID-19 in the classroom regardless of wearing a face covering.
• Any student who was within six feet of student with COVID-19 when either student was unmasked,
• Any student or adult who was within six feet of an adult with COVID-19 for more than ten minutes regardless of wearing a face covering.

How Long Does a Close Contact Have to Quarantine?

Fully vaccinated students identified as close contacts do not have to quarantine provided they remain symptom-free, but should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure. Unvaccinated students identified as close contacts must quarantine for 10 days. These students may test out of quarantine and return to school early on Day 8 if they are symptom-free and take a lab-confirmed COVID-19 test on Day 5 (or later) of quarantine and the test is negative. Proof of the negative COVID-19 test must be submitted to their school. Schools will accept an emailed test result or a paper copy of the test result.

A few things to remember...

• Stay home if sick: Monitor your and your child’s health and stay home if you are sick or keep them home if they are sick, except for getting essential medical care (including COVID-19 testing) and other essential needs.
• Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.
• Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially if you are sick and don’t have symptoms. For more information about face coverings, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus and look for "FAQ About Face Coverings."
• Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; clean frequently touched surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

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.

1. Fill out the form online using a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) 
   • If you already have a NYCSA account linked to your student(s): Log in, click your student’s name, click “Manage Account,” and then when a dropdown menu appears, click “Consent Forms.” Read the page, and then choose the consent option at the end for your student.
   • If you do not already have a NYCSA account: You can create one right away! If you have an account creation code from your school, you can create a full account in approximately five minutes, and then provide consent as described above. 
     • If you do not have an account creation code from your school, you can still provide your consent right away by clicking “Manage Consent” under “COVID-19 Testing” and filling out your and your child’s information to provide consent
2. Print and sign the form and bring it to your child’s school on the first day they are back in the school building. A printable PDF file is available in ten languages, under Consent Forms below.

At home COVD-19 Test Kits will be distributed the first Thursday of each month. This in our continued efforts to keep our school community safe.

Please review the letter attached in your preferred language for more details.

At Home Test Kits Letter-  COVID Kit Distribution Letter- English.pdf 

At Home Test Kits Letter- CODVID Kit DIstribution - Spansih.pdf 

At Home Test Kits Letter - COVID Kit Distribution Letter- Bengali.pdf 

At Home Test Kits Letter -  COVID Kit Distribution Letter- Arabic.pdf