[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n attendee of a high school graduation in Westchester, who recently traveled to Florida, tested positive for COVID-19 and may have infected others, according to the governor.
On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, directed the New York State Department of Health to investigate any potential exposure in the county, for a fear of a cluster of the virus, after a student attended a Horace Greeley High School “drive-in” graduation ceremony in Chappaqua. The individual began showing symptoms in the following days and then tested positive for COVID-19. Four more individuals who attended the ceremony and had contact with the first positive case have also tested positive. All individuals who were infected are currently self-isolating, according to Cuomo.
“We’re prepared to do the aggressive testing and contact tracing required to slow and ultimately control any potential clusters of new cases like the one in Westchester County,” he said.
New York’s first cluster of the novel coronavirus was identified in the city of New Rochelle in March.
In addition to the graduation, the student also participated in a “Field Night” event on June 20, which was also attended by juniors and seniors and students from other school districts. Individuals who attended either event or any other events associated with graduation, which continued into June 21, should extend their quarantine period until July 5, according to state health officials.
The state Department of Health and county Health Department are working with school officials from Horace Greeley to identify all individuals who attended the graduation and any subsequent gatherings where they may have been exposed. And the contact tracing program put in place by the state will attempt to reach out to any individuals identified and try to trace who they’ve come in contact with since those events.
The state is also asking anyone who attended any of the events in question to get tested.
“New Yorkers have controlled the spread of this unprecedented virus by being smart and disciplined, and our progress to date is illustrated by the current low numbers of new cases and hospitalizations,” Cuomo said. “But as we are seeing in other states who reopened quickly, the pandemic is far from over and we need stay vigilant.”
As a result, Cuomo also issued an executive order on Saturday making any New York state employees who voluntarily travel to hotspots after June 25 now ineligible for COVID-19 paid sick leave. “If we are going to maintain the progress we’ve seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility,” he said.
Cuomo had previously put in place a tri-state travel advisory for any high-risk states—including Florida—with coronavirus infection rates topping 10% that requires a two-week quarantine when visiting New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. That advisory also went into effect on June 25.
A spike in first wave COVID-19 cases has continued in several states outside of the Northeast and Midwest regions, concerning public health officials. This week 29 states reported a resurgence of positive cases believed to be due to a relaxing of social restrictions, ongoing protests for social justice and an increase in testing capabilities.
CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
