Coronavirus Detected At 4 Park Slope Schools As Classes Resume

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Coronavirus cases were reported at four Park Slope schools as students got ready to return to class after the holidays, according to the Department of Education.

P.S. 10, Strong Place for Hope Day Care, P.S. 282 and Giocare Preschool all reported at least one coronavirus case between Sunday and Monday, according to a map of active closures from the Department of Education.

Only Giocare Preschool was closed because of the coronavirus cases, according to the map. At the other three schools, the person with coronavirus had not exposed the school community, likely because they hadn't been in the building.

A fifth school, P.S. 321, also appeared on the map due to a classroom closure that started before the holidays. The classroom was closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 4.

According to the Department of Education's guidelines, school buildings must automatically close pending an investigation when at least two COVID-19 cases linked to each other are confirmed in separate classrooms. The closure is extended to 14 days when the infections occurred outside of school or a link between them cannot be determined.

The Park Slope cases are among hundreds of active cases across the five boroughs.

More than 100 schools citywide are under coronavirus closures and 370 classrooms are closed, according to the map.

Only pre-K, 3K, kindergarten, elementary and students with special needs are learning in person given a full public school shutdown in November.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, before students and teachers went on winter recess, said middle school students will be the next group to return to classrooms. A timeline for their return will be announced this month, he said.

Officials hope to avert another disruptive citywide school closure that shifts all students to fully remote, as happened in November. Coronavirus cases across the city remain at months-long highs, but schools appear to be relatively safe.

Find more information on schools closures here.