The East Greenbush Central School District, in coordination with the Rensselaer County Health Department, has completed its contact tracing following yesterday’s notification of a positive case of COVID-19 at Columbia High School.
Based on class rosters, seating charts and other information, 45 students and one employee have been identified as contacts and must enter mandatory quarantine at home through Thursday, November 26. All families impacted have been contacted by school administrators and given instructions related to mandatory quarantine.
During the temporary closure, Columbia was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected including all classrooms and common areas across the building. The cleaning was performed by school custodial staff and an outside company contracted through Questar III BOCES.
After completing the contact tracing and a deep cleaning of the building, the county health department has approved Columbia to reopen for in-person learning on Friday, November 20.
The students who have been quarantined have been asked to complete the COVID-19 Screening Form daily and report any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever (greater than 100 degrees), cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
The students who are quarantined at home will have the following school schedule:
- Friday, November 20 – Remote Learning
- Monday, November 23 – Livestream into Classes
- Tuesday, November 24 – Remote Learning
- Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27 – No School (Thanksgiving Recess)
- Monday, November 30 – Return to In-Person Learning (if no symptoms are presented)
The district is also asking families of the students in quarantine to voluntarily keep any siblings at home through Thursday, November 26 out of an abundance of caution. Younger siblings at the middle school and elementary school levels will be offered tutoring services provided by the district.
In the event that further developments occur or if additional information regarding this matter becomes available to our school district, the school community will be kept informed.
Those with questions are advised to call the county health department directly at 518-270-2655 or contact the district’s COVID-19 Coordinator at Columbia High School at 518-207-2180.