NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)
Sept. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin
Staffers at 10 Queens public schools have tested positive for COVID-19 since teachers and administrators returned to schools across the city on Sept. 8.
The 10 schools are among 56 citywide, where positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed, according to a list the Department of Education provided from Sept. 8 through Monday, Sept. 14.
Each Queens school on the list had just one confirmed case of the virus, the DOE said. The schools are listed below.
P.S. 197 The Ocean School in Far Rockaway
P.S. 55 The Maure Magnet School of Communication Arts, Technology and Multimedia in Richmond Hill
P.S. 349 The Queens School for Leadership and Excellence in Jamaica
P.S. 84 Steinway in Astoria
Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows
P.S. 90 Horace Mann in Richmond Hill
I.S. 230 in Jackson Heights
P.S. 111 Jacob Blackwell in Long Island City
P75Q @ 276 Robert E. Peary School in Jamaica
P.S. 9 Walter Reed School in Maspeth
The schools have remained opened and all employees who have tested positive are self-isolating, a spokesperson for the DOE said.
The city’s Test & Trace Corps, together with the Department of Health are investigating each case to identify close contacts. They have instructed all close contacts to quarantine as well.
Roughly 17,000 schools employees have been tested for COVID-19 at the city’s 22 priority sites. The positivity rate among staffers tested is .32 percent.
The priority testing provides test results within 48 hours and is available to all public school staff members and students.
Beginning next month, all schools will have mandatory monthly COVID-19 testing of a random sample of students and employees.
Students return to school buildings on Monday, Sept. 21 for a mix of in-person and remote learning.
