Coronavirus Cases Close 2 Upper West Side Schools: Here's Where

Upper West Side NY

11 January, 2021

2:31 PM

Description

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Coronavirus cases have temporarily closed down two Upper West Side schools, which returned to in-person learning last week after a winter holiday recess. The school closures in the neighborhood come as COVID-19 rates on the Upper West Side have ticked up in recent weeks. The West Side YMCA and P.S. 145 on the UWS were among 105 schools across New York City facing a 24-hour closure on Monday, according to the Department of Education's map of active cases. The building closures come after at least two cases of coronavirus were reported within each campus. The West Side YMCA at 5 West 63rd Street had two classrooms specifically closed on Monday, along with the building, because of positive tests traced back to space. P.S. 145, located at 150 West 105th Street, also had two classrooms specifically closed due to virus positives getting traced back to the rooms. According to the Department of Education's guidelines, school buildings must automatically close pending an investigation when at least two COVID-19 cases linked to each other are confirmed in separate classrooms. The closure is extended when the infections occurred outside of school or a link between them cannot be determined. About 200 schools citywide are under coronavirus closures, whether for 24 hours or longer, and 682 classrooms are closed, according to the map. Only pre-K, 3K, kindergarten, elementary and students with special needs are learning in person given a full public school shutdown in November. Mayor Bill de Blasio, before students and teachers went on winter recess, said middle school students will be the next group to return to classrooms. A timeline for their return will be announced this month, he said. Officials hope to avert another disruptive citywide school closure that shifts all students to fully remote, as happened in November. Coronavirus cases across the city remain at months-long highs, but schools appear to be relatively safe. Find more information on school closures here. Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed to this report.