Francis X. Hegarty student tests positive for Covid-19

A student attending Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School in Island Park has tested positive for Covid-19, according to the Island Park School District.

The student’s parents notified the school district of their child’s confirmed case on Oct. 5, and Superintendent of Schools Vincent Randazzo sent a letter to the community informing them on the same day. The student has not been in the school building since Friday, Oct. 2, after which the entire building was disinfected.

The school district has reported the case to the Nassau County Department of Health, and per their recommendation, the school remains open. “The department of health has not advised the district to take any additional precautionary measures at this time,” Randazzo said in the letter.

The child and the child’s family are quarantining at home, and the child will not be permitted to return to school until clearance is given based on Covid-19 guidelines. In addition, the health department has begun contact tracing in order to notify anyone who may have had contact with the student, and the district is cooperating with that process, the letter said.

Randazzo reminded parents to monitor themselves and their children closely for any Covid-19 symptoms, including:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If a child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, parents are to note this on the online daily health screening, keep the child home from school, contact the child’s medical provider and seek medical care.

“The health and safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority,” Randazzo said. “This is a good time to remind everyone to stay vigilant to keep our community safe.

“We are closely monitoring this specific situation,” he added, “and will provide you with updates if we learn more.”