Another UES School Building Closes Due To Coronavirus Cases

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An Upper East Side school building closed last week after confirming coronavirus cases, one of 100 such shutdowns in effect citywide to begin the new year.

P.S. 198 Isador E. Straus closed on Tuesday, Dec. 29 and will remain shut through Jan. 11, according to a map of active closures from the Department of Education. It contains an elementary school, the only type of school that has reopened thus far since a citywide surge in COVID-19 cases shuttered most of the city's public schools in November.

A case was first confirmed at P.S. 198 on Dec. 24, forcing one classroom to be closed for two weeks. The entire school building was shut down five days later.

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

In mid-December, four other Upper East Side elementary schools were closed due to COVID-19 cases, but all have since reopened.

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.

The Department of Education reported 169 new cases in schools on Sunday. Under the city's safety procedures, there are currently 370 classrooms closed because of coronavirus.

Visit the DOE website for more information about school closures.

Matt Troutman contributed to this report.

Related coverage: These 4 Upper East Side Schools Are Closed For Coronavirus Cases