As Confirmed Cases Rise, So Do Closings and Cancellations

With the number of confirmed cases spiraling upward on a daily basis, the list of schools and institutions announcing closings and cancellations is also climbing. On Sunday morning March 8, Governor Cuomo announced that there are 105 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York State, with 82 of those in Westchester.

Here is a summary of cancellations in our area:

The Scarsdale Schools cancelled the regional Science Olympiad competition at Scarsdale Middle School scheduled for Saturday, March 7 fearing that the anticipated 1,000 people would increase the risk to attendees and the larger community.

On Sunday March 8 the district announced that players on the Scarsdale Youth Hockey Association middle school team will be quarantined for 14 days. A New Rochelle student who attends Westchester Day School and plays on that same team tested positive. On Friday March 6 the district said that these students were not subject to quarantine but changed their directive on Sunday. About these students’ families, the school district memo says, “The Department of Health has given the families specific guidance as to how to implement these quarantines and how the rest of the family should travel and participate in day-to-day activities.”

On Sunday, Quaker Ridge Elementary School parents learned that the PTA Gala scheduled for March 13 and the school play, scheduled for March 20 have both been postponed.

On Sunday night March 8, the district sent an email saying that the Scarsdale Schools would be closed until March 18 after a teacher at the Scarsdale Middle School was diagnosed with the virus. More information to come.

In Mamaroneck, a parent with children at Chatsworth Avenue Elementary School and Mamaroneck High School has been diagnosed with the virus. An update sent on March 7, 2020 from Superintendent Robert Shaps says, “The parent has not been on school grounds and self-quarantined prior to receiving a lab confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. The DOH has indicated that family members were directed to quarantine, pending the parent's lab results. These family members are not showing any symptoms and will remain under quarantine in accordance with the DOH guidelines until March 17th. The DOH does not test children unless they are showing symptoms.”  After cleaning this weekend, schools will remain open.

Keio Academy a Japanese school in Purchase will close for the rest of the school year
to protect its international student body from the virus.

Westchester Reform Temple was closed this weekend to conduct a deep cleaning. This decision was made after the temple learned that one of their part-time B’nei Mitzvah tutors attended a neighborhood synagogue (not WRT) function that also was attended by people who have since tested positive for Coronavirus. The tutor is asymptomatic and feeling well and chosen to self-quarantine voluntarily. The synagogue contacted all students who interacted with the tutor this past week.

The synagogue will hold a Purim celebration on Monday night March 9 at 7 pm.

According to the Maple Medical Group website, they have closed their offices at 30 Davis Avenue and 143 Maple Avenue in White Plains for sanitizing. A physician who works at the group had contact with Lawrence Garbuz an attorney from New Rochelle who contracted the virus. Two physicians and a nurse practictioner at the practice have all tested positivie. The medical practice sent employees home and are testing the staff who were in contact with the physician. They are also notifying all patients. Their offices at 170 Maple Avenue remain open.

For those concerned in Scardsale, a joint meeting was planned for Monday night at 6:15 pm with the Scarsdale School Board and the Scarsdale Village Board. That meeting has now been cancelled. 

However, as of Monday morning a work session of the Scarsdale Village Board on COVID-19 in Rutherford Hall at Village Hall is still on for Tuesday March 10 at 5 pm.