Coronavirus Cases Close Another 3 Bed-Stuy Schools: DOE

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — For the second week in a row, three schools in Bed-Stuy have been closed down because of coronavirus cases detected in the building, according to the Department of Education.

P.S. 308 on Quincy Street, I.S. 324 on Gates Avenue and P.S. 262 on Macon Street were each closed either Monday or Tuesday given at least two cases of coronavirus in each building, according to the Department of Education's map of active cases.

P.S. 262 was closed both Monday and Tuesday while I.S. 324 and P.S. 308 are facing just 24-hour closures, according to the map.

The three schools join two other buildings that started extended shut downs last week in the neighborhood. A third school that was closed last week has since reopened.

According to the Department of Education's guidelines, school buildings must automatically close pending an investigation when at least two COVID-19 cases linked to each other are confirmed in separate classrooms. The closure is extended when the infections occurred outside of school or a link between them cannot be determined.

The Bed-Stuy schools are among nearly 300 across the five boroughs that were under coronavirus closures as of Tuesday. There were 218 facing an extended closure and 58 under a 24-hour shut down, according to the map.

A total of 749 classrooms were also closed due to the virus.

The closures come as the city's public high schools prepare to welcome back in person students for the first time since November this month. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that high schoolers would return to classrooms on March 22.

Middle school students returned to their classrooms on Feb. 25.

Find the full map of active closures and cases here.