Putnam Coronavirus: Carmel, Mahopac Close Schools

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Carmel closed its schools for the week after receiving confirmation that two people tested positive for coronavirus, one at George Fischer Middle School and one at Carmel High School.

All students will be learning remotely. There will be no interscholastic athletics. Meanwhile, Interim Superintendent Eric Stark, said extra cleaning will take place in rooms where the infected individuals were known to be.

According to the New York State School COVID-19 Report Card, every district in Putnam County except Haldane has a few reported positive tests.

Mahopac closed Lakeview Elementary School and Mahopac Middle School on Tuesday for two days due to confirmed positive coronavirus cases. The Examiner News reported that staffing issues are also a problem.

Putnam County reported 32 active cases total for the whole county as of Friday.

In Carmel, the schools superintendent asked everyone to cooperate with the Putnam County Health Department's contact tracing system.

A call from a Contact Tracer may show up on your caller ID as NYS Contact Tracing or display a phone number with a 518 area code. Please answer these calls promptly and provide the Contact Tracers with the information they need to protect our school community and families.

As a reminder, if you believe at any point you may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you should self-quarantine and speak to your healthcare provider.

Stark said in response to his communication about coronavirus exposure at Carmel High School, many families have asked about contract tracing and attendance protocols.

He recommended people look at the Pre-K to Grade 12 COVID-19 Toolkit and also updated entries in the FAQs for Health & Safety.