2 Brooklyn Teachers Test Positive For COVID-19 Amid School Prep

BROOKLYN, NY — At least two teachers in Brooklyn have tested positive for the coronavirus just two days into staff's return to classrooms to prepare for the school year.

One teacher at M.S. 88, also known as the Park Slope Education Complex, and another at P.S. 001 Bergen School in Sunset Park tested positive for the virus, the Department of Education confirmed to Patch.

“School staff have access to free, expedited testing and we’ve encouraged all staff to get tested before they return to buildings while we continue to navigate the realities of a pandemic," a DOE spokesperson said in a statement.

"Our protocol is to immediately notify staff and Test and Trace will begin an investigation to determine any close contacts. We’ll require any staff identified as close contacts to quarantine, and remain vigilant to prevent spread.”

The teachers, who were both asymptomatic, had gotten test results back Tuesday night after showing up for their first day back at their school buildings that day, Council Member Brad Lander told Gothamist.

Lander said he believes both got coronavirus tests on their own as a precautionary measure.

The teachers notified their principals, who then told staff, and both schools were allowed to work remotely on Wednesday, Lander said.

DOE protocol does not automatically close down a school if one coronavirus case is detected, though staff have the option to work from home while contact tracing is completed. The department is in the process of tracing the teachers' close contacts.

The MORE caucus with the NYC United Federation of Teachers said Thursday they had also heard of positive cases in a third Brooklyn school and a school in the Bronx, though those were not yet confirmed by the DOE.

The organization has called out the city for requiring staff to head back in-person for professional development.

"This airborne disease could spread while staff are in PD in school buildings, esp. since testing isn't mandatory for staff at this time," the caucus Tweeted. "ESPECIALLY since staff professional development is being done virtually inside school buildings and could be EASILY done remotely and safely from home. Shame on @NYCSchools @NYCMayor for endangering staff needlessly."

Schools were originally scheduled to fully reopen on Sept. 10, but city officials delayed the start of in-person classes 10 days until Sept. 21 after the threat of a strike from the teachers union.

De Blasio said the deal gives teachers additional days to prepare for returning to classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.