COVID-19 Information

Welcome to our COVID response page. Below you’ll find all the critical information about how P.S. 199X is changing the way we operate to reduce the risk of COVID infection. We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe. Please check back regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.

DOE Fall 2022 COVID-19 Guidance

This guidance provides best practice considerations for schools for the 2022-2023 school year to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among students and staff.

• Vaccination: Vaccination is the best way to reduce COVID-19 risk. Encourage up to date COVID-19 vaccination for everyone six months or older.
  • Visit the vaccine finder page(Open external link) or call 877-829-4692 to find a location near you.
  • Up to date includes boosters for everyone who is eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people. See At-A-Glance COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules (cdc.gov).
  • Vaccination Requirements, as of February 10, 2023:
    • Vaccination is no longer required for all visitors entering school buildings
    • Vaccination is no longer required for all DOE employees
    • Vaccination is no longer required for other individuals who work in DOE buildings
    • Vaccination is no longer required to participate in high-risk extracurricular activities including high-risk PSAL sports 
• Daily Health Screener:
  • No longer required to enter school buildings 
• Stay home if sick: Students and staff should stay home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses and get tested for COVID-19. 
• Isolate if COVID-19 positive: Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days and can return to school on day 6 if they have no symptoms or symptoms are improving. They should wear a mask until day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart.
  • These cases should be reported to their school so they can be report into the sit room for exposure notifications.
• Get tested if exposed to COVID-19: Students and staff who are exposed to COVID-19 should get tested.
  • These individuals should receive home tests from their school and take two tests, at least 48 hours apart. All exposed individuals should monitor for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after their exposure. If symptoms begin, they should not attend school and should isolate and get tested for COVID-19 again right away. 
• Testing:
  • Starting May 1, 2023, schools will offer home test kits to staff and students who are experiencing symptoms and/or have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19.
    • These tests can be used by school families for testing due to symptoms, exposures, high-risk activity (such as travel and large gatherings) and can give staff and students immediate results.
  • Please see below for a letter to families
• Situation Room:
  • Schools will report positive cases of COVID-19 through an online reporting tool.
  • School communities will be notified of cases in their schools through daily email and the Daily COVID map. 
• Masking- Face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn when indoors. As of December 9, 2022, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has issued a universal indoor masking recommendation(Open external link) for all indoor settings, including schools and daycare centers, given very high rates of flu and other respiratory conditions. Masks will be made available at the school for all those who need/want them.
  • Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask when:
    • Returning to school on the sixth day after testing positive for COVID-19, through day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier, including when traveling on a school bus. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart.
    • Entering the school medical room, nurse’s office, or school-based health center.
    • Exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
  • Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are also strongly recommended to wear a mask:
    • When they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, whether the exposure occurred in school or outside of school. The person should wear a mask for 10 days after their last day of exposure and get tested at least 48 hours apart.
    • When they are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised, and masking is recommended by their healthcare provider.
    • In crowded outdoor settings 
• Ventilation:
  • 160K+ air purifiers distributed to schools – at least two in every classroom
  • Monitoring ventilation in buildings on a daily basis and perform any required work in a timely manner
  • HVAC upgrades in alignment with CDC guidance, including 110,000 MERV-13 filters installed
• School Building Cleaning:
  • Routine cleaning of surfaces will be maintained

We are committed to making sure that all students can successfully connect to online learning during their at-home learning days.

• If your student needs a laptop or tablet, fill out the Device Request Form in a new browser tab to reserve your device. Borrowing a device is free!
• If your children experience internet-connectivity issues with their iPads, please use these helpful ipad resources or request help through the Technical Support for Families Form
• Borrowed devices should be used for school purposes only and kept in a secure location. Take your device with you on in-school days.
• If you are not able to get internet hooked up in your home, your child's teacher will work with you to provide alternative offline assignments.