Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Parent Tests Positive For Coronavirus - Governor Cuomo And Mayor de Blasio Announce NYC Public Schools Closing Tomorrow Due To Coronavirus Emergency, Hope To Reopen April 20

Earlier today, a Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

parent shared a letter received from school Principal Mandana Beckman last Friday. According to this excerpt of Ms Beckman's letter:

... We would like to make clear that at this time no member of our student body or school staff has a confirmed case of coronavirus.

A member of our school community who has identified themselves at potentially higher risk for contracting the virus is at home in voluntary self-quarantine.

We are following citywide guidance to urge any member of our school community who is feeling sick to stay home. Please remember that it is cold and flu season, and no absence, for any amount of time, should be interpreted as a coronavirus-related absence.

I can reassure all of you that if the City of New York confirms a case of coronavirus within our school, the school community would be immediately notified by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and myself, and next steps would be clearly outlined without delay....

I asked Principal Beckman if the Coronavirus test results were positive and:

Will the school will be open on Monday and rest of this week?

Have not received any reply yet.

Two separate reliable sources have told me that PS/IS 217 community member is a Queens Parent who did test positive.

Here's the full letter from Principal Beckman

PS217 Principal Letter

This afternoon NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced:

NYC must have a plan in place in the next 24 hours for childcare for essential workers and a plan to make sure kids will continue to get the meals they need.

NYC schools will close early this week.

This action is necessary to reduce density and mitigate the spread of #COVID19.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 15, 2020

And Mayor de Blasio adds:

BREAKING: @NYCMayor announces @NYCSchools will be closed until Monday, April 20th: https://t.co/a5yPvshGQQ

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) March 15, 2020

"This is a decision that I am making with no joy and a lot of pain," @NYCMayor says, announcing that schools will be CLOSED AS OF TOMORROW. Suspending schools until AFTER THE SPRING VACATION. First attempt to re-start is Monday, April 20th.

— Jillian Jorgensen (@Jill_Jorgensen) March 15, 2020

Remote learning will begin in city schools beginning Monday March 23rd. @NYCMayor says it will be like "battle training" to get teachers ready.

— Jillian Jorgensen (@Jill_Jorgensen) March 15, 2020

City will be doing work in the coming days to determine how to get meals to kids who need them. Likewise, the city is working to provide technology to kids who don't have computers or connectivity.

— Jillian Jorgensen (@Jill_Jorgensen) March 15, 2020