A covid case in Lawrence's middle school

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The Lawrence School District reported that another Covid case on Nov. 12, this one at the middle school. District officals  said that the "few contacts associated with the case have been notofied."

The Lawrence School District reported two more positive cases of Covid 19 on Nov. 11. District officials said that neither person was in the school buildings during the time they would have been contagious.

"These caes emphasize the importance of testing, staying home when sick, and not masking symptoms with fever reduction medications," Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen said in a statement.

The district confirmed on Nov. 9 that there were two new positive Covid-19 cases. One is a person at the Early Childhood Center and one is an individual at the high school. The identity of each remains confidential.

In a Nov. 9 letter,  Ann Pedersen said that all the close contacts of the Early Childhood Center person were notified and are quarantining. The individual from Lawrence High was last in the building on Nov. 5. “The individual followed all protocols while in the school building,” Pedersen stated. “In consultation with the Nassau County Department of Health, this individual was determined to have no close contacts to the school community.”

She added that the building is “cleaned and disinfected nightly in accordance with our procedures.” After consulting the county’s Department of Health and in conjunction with the district’s safety procedures and protocols in the reopening plan, the Early Childhood Center and the high school remain open. No other district buildings were affected, Pedersen noted.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide you with additional information should it become necessary,” she stated.

 Testing requirement lifted

With the yellow zone restrictions for the Far Rockaway-Five Towns areas lifted, the 20 percent state mandated  Covid-19 testing for schools in New York's cluster hotspot initiative has been rescinded  told the Herald.

The Lawrence School District is no longer required to test after first needing to close last month and using remote instruction then reopening on Nov. 2 for in-person instruction.

Because infection rates rose earlier in October, Gov. Andrew Cuomo put the cluster hotspot initiative into effect that established red, orange and yellow cluster zones. The Lawrence Primary School at the Number Two School and the Broadway Campus that houses the elementary school and middle school were in the orange zone and the Number Two School abuts the yellow. In October, the Lawrence district reported four Covid cases.

To leave the red zone must be under a 3 percent infection rate after 10 days, 4 percent in less populated areas. To exit the orange zone it is under 2 percent after 10 days, 3 percent in less populated areas and yellow under 1.5 after 10 days and 2 percent in less populated  regions. 

Lawrence schools were in two of the three zones Cuomo created except for the high school.  Nassau County’s overall positive rate  rose to 2.2 percent on Nov. 6.

In the red zone religious worship is allowed at 25 capacity, 10 people maximum. Mass gatherings prohibited, only essential businesses are open and schools are closed. Dining is only delivery or takeout.

In orange religious worship is 35 percent capacity, 25 people maximum. Mass gatherings are 10 people maximum inside or outside. Businesses considered high-risk and non-essential such as gyms, personal care, etc. are closed, along with schools. Dining is outside only with a four-person maximum per table.

In yellow religious worship is 50 percent capacity, mass gatherings are 25 people maximum indoors or outdoors and non-essential business are open. Dining is inside or outside, four-person maximum to a table. Schools are open with a mandatory 20 percent weekly testing of students, teachers and staff.