Ossining Schedules More Tests To Meet New York's Coronavirus Rule

OSSINING, NY — Ossining High School won't be able to resume hybrid teaching and learning this week, because too few students received coronavirus tests.

In hopes of reaching the 20 percent requirement imposed on the district when the community received yellow-zone restrictions due to its high positivity rate, testing will continue from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday at Ossining High School. SEE: 5 Westchester Communities Added To Coronavirus Micro-Cluster Zone.

Under yellow zone regulations, the following restrictions are implemented:

• Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted, but there is a four-person maximum per table; bars and restaurants must still close at 10 p.m.; and late-night takeout is permitted.
• Schools can remain open, however 20 percent of the weekly in-student and teacher population must be tested.
• In-home private gatherings are limited to 10 people.
• All other nonessential gatherings are limited to 25 people, whether indoors or outdoors.

All other schools will remain open for live instruction this week.

However, if the district doesn't hit the 20 percent mark, all teaching and learning will have to be done remotely as long as Ossining is a designated yellow zone, Superintendent Ray Sanchez told parents.

So far, 550 students and staff members have been tested. Seven received positive results, he said.

"As you are aware, this past Tuesday and Wednesday we conducted testing for students and staff. We were able to test approximately 400 students and staff members during these two days," Sanchez said. "Additionally, Open Door has been testing our students Districtwide and has shared that they have tested approximately 150 students."

District officials said they would reach out to families that expressed an interest in having their child tested but did not attend their appointment. In the near future, they also intend to test students at Brookside, Roosevelt, and AMD.

Click here to schedule an appointment. Click here to view the consent form before your visit.

"I would like to take a moment to thank all of our families who took part in this testing. Our students were brave and did an amazing job. I am extremely humbled by the support we have received during this time," he said. "In addition to our amazing school nurses, we had volunteers from OVACC as well as local doctors that helped with our testing. Thank you once again to all that participated in our testing and for all of your support during this time."

Ossining officials also announced that the Westchester County Health Department and Open Door Family Medical Center will be offering testing for the coronavirus two days this week. The testing will take place at Open Door Ossining at 165 Main St.:

• Friday, Dec 4th @ 10:00 AM to 4:20 PM
• Saturday, Dec 5th @ 9:30 AM to 1:50 PM

Appointments are necessary. To make an appointment, call 914-995-7425 or go here.