Employee From Sunrise Drive School Tests Positive For Coronavirus

SAYVILLE, NY — A staff member of the Sunrise Drive School tested positive for the coronavirus, the Sayville School District reported on Monday. In a letter to the community, Superintendent John Stimmel stated that the employee's last day of work was Friday, March 13. Schools have been closed to students since Monday, March 16.

"As we await further guidance from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDOHS), the District is calling individuals who had exposure to this staff member," Stimmel wrote.

Exposure is considered contact within six feet lasting 10 minutes or longer. Suffolk Department of Health guidelines indicate that the coronavirus does not survive on surfaces beyond 72 hours. Stimmel says the district has engaged in deep cleaning at all buildings including Sunrise Drive School.

"Given these facts we have been assured that the virus from this exposure would no longer be present in the building," he wrote. "The Health Department alerted the District that, due to the high volume of Covid-19 cases in Suffolk County, the Department will no longer contact individuals concerning possible Covid-19 exposure. Instead, the Department is asking that individuals continue to observe proper precautions and monitor themselves and their families for symptoms related to Covid-19."

Over the weekend, the district announced that a staff member from Sayville Middle School also tested positive for the coronavirus.