W.T. Clarke High School student tests positive for Covid-19

A student from W.T. Clarke High School, in the East Meadow School District, has tested positive for coronavirus, as reported to the district on Sept. 9 — one day after schools reopened.

The student will not be permitted to return for 14 days or until he or she could provide a negative test result to the district. Any students who came into direct contact with the student were notified by the district and are also required to quarantine, according to a letter sent home to parents on Sept. 10 by Superintendent Kenneth Card. Direct contact includes coming within less than six feet of a person without wearing a facemask, as stated by the Nassau County Department of Health.

The district has closed off all areas of the building that the afflicted student has visited and is cleaning and disinfected those areas, Superintendent Card wrote in the letter.

“Based on guidance from the [County Health Department], we will follow all necessary protocols to mitigate any potential exposure to other students or staff,” he wrote. “As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority.”

In Superintendent Card’s letter, he stated that the positive case was not confirmed official because it came from a rapid test and was self-reported — noting that it could have been a false positive. On conferring with the County Health Department, Superintendent Card sent out another letter stating that all positive Covid-19 tests should be treated as valid.  

The letter also informed parents that they could reach out to the principal at their child’s school with any further questions or concerns.