Health Officials Offer Back-To-School Coronavirus FAQ

The Westchester County Department of Health has put out a FAQ for local primary and secondary schools that covers a host of issues about the new coronavirus.

Firstly, with schools about to start, health officials remind parents that students coming back from vacation from states on New York's travel advisory must quarantine for 14 days. The most up-to-date list of states is available here.

Other and answers cover issues such as when schools should report cases, who is responsible for tracing contacts, and what resources are needed during quarantine.

One of the most frequently asked questions is: If a child tests positive and has a sibling in the school, should the school keep the sibling out of school?

The answer is yes. "Unless the siblings reside in separate households, the sibling must be placed on quarantine which would mean that the sibling should not attend school during the required period for quarantine."

Worried about school starting?

Health officials remind the community that New York officials have set specific, science-based metrics based on the state's experience in controlling the outbreak.

The metrics can be monitored by parents, teachers and administrators.

Generally, schools in regions in Phase IV (which the Mid-Hudson entered July 7) can reopen if the daily infection rate remains below 5 percent using a 14-day average. Schools will close if regional infection rate raises over 9 percent after Aug. 1.

In the Mid-Hudson region, the 7-day rolling average for positive tests has been around 1 percent for two months.

See the whole FAQ here.