Park Avenue Elementary – Positive COVID-19 Case

Dear Warwick Valley CSD Families,

The District learned at 5:00 pm this evening, Friday, October 9, that a Park Avenue Elementary student tested positive for COVID-19. The infected student last attended school Tuesday, September 29. 

The District is working closely with the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) to determine the most appropriate next steps. Park Avenue Elementary School will open on Tuesday, October 13, as scheduled. 

Once a positive case is confirmed, contact tracing begins. All students and staff exposed to the infected student have been called this evening. The last date of quarantine for those contacted will be Wednesday, October 14.

As this is the first confirmed case of a student or staff member enrolled in in-person instruction, I will review some important points. 

• The school district must first receive confirmation of a positive case from the OCDOH before informing families. 
• Due to medical privacy laws, the District may not release the name of an individual with COVID-19.
• The school district reports all positive cases (staff or students) to the OCDOH. If the infected student participates solely in remote instruction, the District will share this information with the OCDOH; however, the school district will take no further action.  
• While the use of social media platforms offers many benefits, it continues to be a challenge when inaccurate information spreads quickly.  Often this information is not verified or fact-checked. To keep all stakeholders fully informed, New York State’s COVID Report Card is updated daily. Any difference in the number of cases reported by the District and laboratories reflects infected students who are residing within the District but not attending our schools.  

Our thoughts, of course, are with this child and family. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Orange County Department of Health at 845-291-2330.

Sincerely,

David Leach