2 Forest Hills Elementary Schools Closed Due To Coronavirus Cases

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Two Forest Hills elementary schools were closed to in-person learning Friday after multiple members of each school community tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the NYC Department of Education.

P.S. 144 will shift to fully remote learning until Jan. 4 after at least two members of the school's community reported COVID-19 cases, according to a message from Acting Principal Jennifer Lucadamo posted on the school's website Friday.

P.S. 101 - The School in the Gardens closed Friday for an initial 24-hour investigation period after two or more members of the school community tested positive for the virus within a week of each other, Principal Monique Paniagua wrote in a letter to families posted online.

Department of Health workers are investigating the transmission sources and will determine whether the school building should close for another two weeks.

Close contacts have been notified of the need to quarantine for 14 days, according to the letter.

"Based on the status of the investigation, I will communicate with you each night about the status of opening the next morning for everyone who is not a close contact," Paniagua wrote.

P.S. 144 and P.S. 101 are among nine Queens schools that closed to in-person learning this week due to coronavirus cases, according to a Department of Education map.

Public schools reopened their classrooms to an estimated 190,000 preschoolers and elementary school students Monday, after Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged a phased restart for in-person learning coupled with increased testing in schools.