Brentwood SD: 3 Students, 1 Employee Test Positive For COVID-19

BRENTWOOD, NY — Three students and one staff member within the Brentwood School District tested positive for the coronavirus recently, school officials announced on Tuesday. According to a letter from Richard Loeschner, officials were notified of the positive COVID-19 cases over the weekend by the Suffolk County Department of Health.

The cases include one Freshmen Center student, one Hemlock Park Elementary School student, one Southwest Elementary School student and a Loretta Park Elementary School staff member. All those who tested positive, as well as the two siblings of the Southwest student and seven Loretta Park staff members, are currently being quarantined. After receiving the news, school officials began to conduct contact tracing immediately, according to Loeschner.

"The district’s Contact Tracer submitted all the required information to the Suffolk County Department of Health, and we are following all necessary protocols to mitigate any exposure to students and staff," he wrote.

Health officials determine whether students and staff should be quarantined. They are also responsible for contacting those believed to be in close contact with the people who tested positive.

"Oftentimes a student may not have been in school while he/she was able to transmit the virus or the duration of contact with the individual is minimal thereby reducing the risk of spreading the virus," according to Loeschner. "As always, the building and rooms the individuals used have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized."

District officials say the schools are continuing to social distance students in classrooms and cafeterias, students and staff are always wearing masks. In addition, dividers were installed in the cafeterias across the district.