Westorchard Elementary School Notification - November 19, 2020

November 19, 2020

Dear Westorchard School Community,

We have been notified that an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 was at Westorchard Elementary School while infectious on Monday (11/16), Tuesday (11/17) and Wednesday (11/18). As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, we must maintain this person’s confidentiality, which prevents us from further identifying the individual.

We are working collaboratively with the Westchester County Department of Health to identify staff members and students who were exposed to this person. Individuals who have been exposed must quarantine for 14 days, from the last exposure date (11/16, 11/17, or 11/18), and should be tested for COVID-19 five days after their last exposure. Principal Jim Skoog and Assistant Principal Alissa Stoever are contacting the families of all children who were exposed to this individual while they were infectious this evening.

The Westchester County Department of Health has a contact tracing system in place for Westchester County when there is a confirmed case. They work to identify those who have been in close contact with the positive person. Close contact means being within six feet of a person with COVID-19 for more than 10 minutes, or in a room together, such as students / teachers in a classroom. If you are identified as a close contact of the person who tested positive, you will receive a call from a contact tracer. For such calls, your caller ID may read NYS Contact Tracing or display a phone number with a 518 area code. Please answer these calls promptly and provide the Contact Tracers with the information they need to protect us all.

As a reminder, if you believe at any point you may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should self-quarantine and be tested for COVID-19. Visit the NY State Find a Test Site Near You page and enter your address to view a list of the nearest testing sites. In addition, if you suspect you are becoming ill, you should stay home. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Additional symptoms include muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. You should consult with your physician for medical advice in specific cases.

Thank you for your understanding. I will continue to keep you informed regarding this particular situation, as appropriate. For more information on COVID-19, please call: (866) 588-0195 or visit the Westchester Department of Health homepage.

Sincerely,

Christine Ackerman, PhD
Superintendent of Schools