Today, Glens Falls City School administrators were notified that an individual at Big Cross Street School tested positive for COVID-19. This individual has not been in the school building or on school grounds since Tuesday, Oct. 20th.
As soon as we were notified of the positive case, the Superintendent was in direct contact with Warren County Public Health to begin contact tracing protocols. Because of the length of time the individual has not been in the building, WCPH has determined that no additional contact tracing is necessary in this case, and that there is a very low likelihood of transmission to school contacts of this individual.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws restrict district officials from disclosing or confirming any personally identifiable information. Therefore, we cannot identify by name anyone who has tested positive. The individual who tested positive is in isolation for at least 10 days and will not return to the school environment until cleared by Warren County Public Health.
The health, safety, and well-being of our school community remains our main focus. We are following protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of our school community. We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of wearing masks, staying six feet apart from others, and regularly washing your hands. Please continue to conduct at-home screenings and maintain personal awareness of COVID symptoms for your children.
This notification to parents and our community at large is part of our commitment to keep you informed during these uncertain times. Currently, our school buildings remain open for in-person instruction. We will continue to work closely with our local Department of Health and we will follow their guidance on how to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. Visit our website if you would like more information about our health and safety procedures.