DP School District Closely Monitoring Coronavirus Situation

DEER PARK, NY — Despite the fact that there have not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Deer Park area, school district officials announced last week they are taking steps to address the concerns of the community.

In a letter sent out on Monday, Superintendent of Schools James Cummings stated that the district will be continuing to "monitor any and all developments" very closely.

"Deer Park School District will continue to follow guidance, as it is received, from the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Suffolk County Department of Health as this issue develops."

On Friday, the Uniondale School District confirmed that the first Long Island man to test positive for the novel coronavirus is from Uniondale. The number of new coronavirus cases in New York climbed to 33 this week.

Related:

• Coronavirus In NY: 33 Cases Now Confirmed, 5 Hospitalized
• LI's First Coronavirus Patient Is Uniondale Man, School Confirms

In Lindenhurst, Superintendent Daniel Giordano announced last Monday that several high school students who returned from a recent trip to Italy fell ill. However after consulting with the Suffolk County Health Department, health officials believe the gastric symptoms the students experienced are a result of norovirus, flu or possibly even salmonella and are in "no way reflective" of the respiratory symptoms or symptoms of pneumonia, which accompany COVID-19.

The letter also provided a list of important points for the community to know:

• While there is still no vaccine for this virus, the CDC recommends:

- Avoid close contact with people who are sick

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

- Stay home when you are sick

- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the touch

- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

"Here at our schools, our custodial staff is taking extra cleaning precautions, by cleaning and sanitizing all frequently touched areas, such as table tops, doorknobs, handles, bathroom fixtures, etc.," Cummings wrote in the letter.