New COVID-19 Cases
The district learned of six individuals testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and today: two cases connected to Lynnwood Elementary; one connected to Westmere Elementary; one at Guilderland Elementary; one at Farnsworth Middle School; and one case at Guilderland High School. The cases associated with Lynnwood, Westmere and Guilderland Elementary Schools required contact tracing per the Albany County Department of Health guidelines. Individuals associated with these cases have been contacted, and the Department of Health should be following up with them.
COVID-19 Testing Results
Our goal throughout this school year has been to offer in-person learning as long as it is safe. This is why, per Albany County Health Department health’s advice, we conducted COVID-19 surveillance testing in our schools when cases in our region were on the rise.
As of the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 29, the district administered 945 rapid COVID-19 surveillance tests to a random selection of consenting in-person students and staff; this is just over twenty percent of our total in-person population. Four tests came back positive, which equates to a 0.4% positivity rate. Below is the breakdown of tests administered at each building:
- Altamont Elementary: 60 total tests (8 employees, 52 students)
- Guilderland Elementary: 74 total tests (24 employees, 50 students)
- Lynnwood Elementary: 71 total tests (15 employees, 56 students)
- Pine Bush Elementary: 53 total tests (11 employees, 42 students)
- Westmere Elementary: 80 total tests (20 employees, 60 students)
- Farnsworth Middle School: 201 total tests (40 employees, 161 students)
- Guilderland High School: 406 total tests (86 employees, 320 students)
This information helps reaffirm that the infection rate in our schools is low. Even though our infection rate is low, everyone must continue to be vigilant in following our health and safety protocols of social distancing, mask-wearing and hand hygiene. These practices make a huge difference in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Thank everyone for doing their part to keep one another safe and to the families and staff members who participated in our surveillance testing. A big thank you to our incredible team of nurses and support staff for administering these tests!
Weather-Related Closure
In light of the forecast, we will continue to monitor the weather conditions and notify our staff and families via local media and SchoolMessenger if school is closed or delayed tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb 2. Please take a minute to review our weather-related closing and delays information for the 2020-21 school year.