East Ramapo Closes Schools For 2 Days Over New Coronavirus

RAMAPO, NY — East Ramapo school officials closed school for Monday and Tuesday as part of efforts to clean and sanitize buildings after five students were determined to have been exposed to the new coronavirus, officials said.

School officials found out Friday that the five students were in voluntary quarantine for exposure to the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. District officials worked through the weekend to sanitize the five schools where the students are enrolled and to coordinate further steps with local and state health officials.

The final step they decided on was "an extra precaution, being done out of an abundance of caution," district officials said in a notice to parents.

Over the weekend, all buildings were closed and all activities were canceled. Moreover, the district closed school for Monday and Tuesday to clean and sanitize all the buildings plus the Administration Building.

"As this action is not mandated by the Rockland County Health Department or the New York State Education Department, we will be using the two unused snow/emergency days, which are built into our instructional calendar," school officials said. "Monday and Tuesday will be used as emergency days for all students and staff. We plan to reopen and operate on a regular schedule on Wednesday, March 11, 2020."

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The five schools where the five students attended are Hempstead Elementary School, Pomona Middle School, Chestnut Ridge Middle School, Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School.

As of Sunday, officials said, the five students were not showing symptoms of the virus.

All school buses that transport all district students were also thoroughly cleaned and sanitized over the weekend.

"We continue to work to ensure that all necessary precautionary steps are being taken to keep students and staff healthy," school officials said. "The health of our students, families and staff is our top priority."

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