POUGHKEEPSIE – A staff member at Poughkeepsie High School has tested positive for COVID-19, the district announced.
School officials learned of the test results on Sunday, March 22.
According to a statement from the district’s spokesman, Irwin Goldberg, the school district immediately filed a report with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health after learning of the positive test and consulted with Commissioner Dr. A.K. Vaidian, to discuss the situation and obtain guidance.
Based on the facts received by the school district, the staff member was exposed to COVID-19 by someone outside of the high school community and sought testing after being notified of their potential exposure.
The testing occurred after their last day at the high school Thursday, March 19.
It is believed that the staff member’s presence at the school on March 19, did not put the general public at risk; however, as a precaution, the 16 people believed to have had close contact with the staff member have been notified and advised to self-quarantine and contact their primary physician as a precautionary measure.
Because the schools were closed most of last week, district officials said, “We don’t have reason to believe that any students had direct contact with the affected person at the school while he/she was symptomatic.”
The staff member is quarantined per their doctor’s orders and the federal guidance related to testing positive for COVID-19.
Other district employees and parents of students at Poughkeepsie High have been notified of the situation.
The school district is taking precautionary measures to ensure that all students and staff are safe. In response to this news, the high school will undergo deep cleaning to ensure that it is thoroughly sanitized before the school reopens for instruction.
PCSD will continue to communicate with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health and communicate any new developments that may impact our school community.
In addition, PHS families can pick up At-Home Learning materials today (Tuesday), March 24, at PACE, 18 South Perry Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The learning materials are also available online at www.poughkeepsieschools.org.
