Hicksville High-Schooler Contracts Coronavirus; School Stays Open

HICKSVILLE, NY — A Hicksville High School student has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, but the school was not required to close, officials said.

Hicksville Public Schools was notified Friday by the Nassau County Department of Health that a student/staff member at the school tested positive for the disease, superintendent Marianne Litzman told the community in a letter. Due to privacy laws, further details about the person's identity weren't released. However, state records showed the community member was a student who was on-site.

"We are following guidance issued by the New York State Education Department and the Nassau County Department of Health," Litzman said.

Hicksville High School has 600 students, 136 teachers and 95 non-teaching staff members on-site.

The student was not determined to be in close contact with any other staff or students, she said. All social distancing protocols were followed and masks were worn. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for at least 10 minutes without a mask.

"As such, we are cleared to remain open today and open with our usual schedule for instruction next week," Litzman said in the letter Friday.

The Department of Health completed its contact tracing investigation and informed the district it could remain open. All Hicksville public schools and offices were closed Monday for a pre-planned religious holiday, according to the district calendar.

School districts across Long Island have seen coronavirus cases in the opening days and weeks of the new school year, including Port Washington, Seaford, Syosset, Oyster Bay, New Hyde Park, Great Neck, Plainview, Mineola and even elsewhere in Hicksville.

See also:

• Full List Of LI Schools That Have Reported COVID-19 Cases