South Ocean Middle School Student Tests Positive For Coronavirus

PATCHOGUE-MEDFORD, NY — A student from South Ocean Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19, the Patchogue-Medford School District announced on Tuesday. According to a letter from Superintendent Donna Jones, the student is currently in self-quarantine.

"Due to federal health privacy laws, information regarding the student's identity cannot be released," Jones wrote. "Please respect this individual's privacy during this difficult time."

School officials contacted the Department of Health who is responsible for contact tracing and contacting those who are determined to have been in close proximity to the student.

This is the fifth student in the district to receive a positive test result for the coronavirus since schools reopened last month, according to the New York state COVID-19 school report card. As of Thursday, two Patchogue-Medford High School students and two Tremont Elementary School students also tested positive.