The following message was sent to staff at our Central Office building:
Dear Colleagues:
This afternoon, we were notified that a staff member in our Central Office tested positive for COVID. The staff member was last in the office on October 12. Based on the circumstances of this case, there is no need to conduct contact tracing at our building.
While we understand that you may want additional details, privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personal identifiable information. We appreciate your understanding.
All students or staff directed to isolate due to a positive COVID test must provide proof of release by their local health department before they can return to school or work. Any individual that was identified to quarantine due to a close contact to a positive case may return to school or work following confirmation by the local health department.
We follow the CDC, state, and local guidance to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. Please continue to follow all health and safety guidelines so together we can protect one another and keep our buildings open.
This includes completing our daily health questionnaire prior to coming to work, wearing face coverings or masks, keeping physical distancing, washing your hands, practicing good respiratory etiquette, limiting your exposure from others outside your household, avoiding mass gatherings and travel to high positivity states, staying home if you are sick and awaiting COVID test results*, and asking questions if you need clarification or something does not seem right.
*Per the CDC, fully vaccinated close contacts should be referred for COVID testing. Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated close contacts do not need to quarantine at home following an exposure (they can continue to attend school or work in-person and participate in other activities). In addition to correctly wearing masks in school, they should wear a mask in other indoor public settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
Please continue to monitor yourself for symptoms of COVID and report any absences and positive test results to your supervisor immediately. Symptoms vary, and some people may not experience any symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider (or the county health department if you do not have one) to be assessed if you have one or more of these new or worsening symptoms:
- a temperature greater or equal to 100.0° F
- feel feverish or have chills
- cough
- loss of taste or smell
- fatigue
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- muscle pain or body aches
- headaches or nasal congestion/running nose
Thank you all for your ongoing efforts to keep our building safe and healthy. Please contact me directly with any questions or concerns.
Harry Hadjioannou
Deputy Superintendent/Chief Innovation Officer
Questar III BOCES
