Messages from the Center

There is an enormous amount of information on COVID-19 being shared from multiple agencies and organizations on an ongoing basis. This page was created to serve as a repository for current resources for school leaders and staff. It is updated continuously.

Questions related to the NYSDOH Guidance Document should be directed to your local health department.

NYS Local Health Department Websites and Phone Numbers by Counties

You may also contact the NYSDOH at 1-888-364-3065 or schoolquestionscovid@health.ny.gov

Guidance and Resources On COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Distribution Is Located Below
Questions regarding quarantine and/or retesting of symptomatic individuals who have already tested positive for COVID should be directed to the local or state department of health.

Trending Information and Updates

01/21/21 | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Official Website (Updated Daily)
01/21/21 | NYSDOH - What You Need to Know- Includes Update on Vaccine Distribution (Updated Daily)
What You Need to Know LAST UPDATED: January 21, 2021 AT 1:30 PM

This info is from the NYSDOH Coronavirus @ https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

Visit ny.gov/vaccine to get the facts on the COVID-19 Vaccine in New York.

The new COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker Dashboard will update New Yorkers on the distribution of the vaccine including the number of doses received by the state, a breakdown of first or second doses, and the number of persons vaccinated with the first and second doses in each region.

The Open Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers has been extended through March 31, 2021. New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health or directly through insurers.

If you have been on quarantine due to contact with someone known to have COVID-19:

a negative test does NOT release you from quarantine.

It is essential to wait 10 days full days to make sure that no infection appears, even if you have no symptoms, before being released from quarantine.

Quarantine should last 10 days from the last exposure to a person with known COVID-19.

In addition, you should continue to monitor yourself for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for up to 14 days after that last exposure.

If you have any questions about your period of quarantine, please call your Local Health Department.

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act places a moratorium on residential evictions until May 1, 2021 for tenants who have endured COVID-related hardship.

Indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to no more than 10 people.

New travel guidelines are in effect that allow out-of-state travelers to “test out” of the mandatory 10-day quarantine.

To report violations of health and safety restrictions and requirements for businesses, gatherings and individuals, please choose the appropriate link below:

File a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community.

File a complaint against your employer or place of work.

Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. Any New Yorker can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
01/15/21 | Guidance for  NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Program Effective 1/15/21

Limited amounts of COVID-19 vaccine are available for New York’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. The amount of vaccine the state receives is based upon the allocation made to New York by the federal government. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) then determines state allocations to providers and entities who have enrolled to administer vaccine. The NYSDOH continues to expand on its prioritization and allocation framework based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Providers must prioritize their health care workers, and hospitals must continue to prioritize unvaccinated health care workers from the 1A group, but may vaccinate any eligible person in 1A or 1B.

Retail pharmacies or physician network or practice groups, after vaccinating their own patient-facing staff, should only vaccinate persons aged 65 years or older. Local Health Departments must prioritize the essential worker population in 1B.

Read the updated guidance from the NYSDOH here.
01/08/21 | Governor Cuomo Updates Information On Vaccination For Group 1b (includes education staff)

Governor Cuomo has shared information on vaccination for group 1b (includes education staff)

"Starting on Monday, New York State will begin scheduling vaccinations for "Phase 1b" groups—the next category of people eligible for the vaccine. This group includes People aged 75 and up; education workers (pre-K through 12 teachers and education workers, licensed and registered child care providers, and school-bus drivers)..."

You can view the briefing and transcript here

State and Federal Resources

The NYSDOH Toolkit is available on the NYSDOH What You Need to Know Webpage - Under the purple Schools block.
The information below is available on the NY Forward Phase 4 Industries page under PK-12 Schools. The In-Person Instruction Guidance was updated on 8/26/20.
- Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction At Pre-K-12 Schools Detailed Guidelines (NYSDOH, 7/13/20. Updated 8/26/20)
  - Summary Of Changes Made To 8/26/20 Interim Guidance (NYSCSH, 8/27/20)
  - Interim Guidance for Sports and Recreation (NYSDOH, 8/15/20)
  - Supplemental Guidance (NYSDOH, 8/7/20)
- Summary Guidelines (NYSDOH,7/13/20)
- Reopening Guidance(NYSDOH, 7/13/20)
- NYSDOH Travel Guidance (Scroll to the bottom of the page for FAQs 7/2/20)
  - For families who have traveled out of the country call the NYSDOH. CDC Information on International Travel is here.
- Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure (NYSDOH, 5//31/20)
- SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Testing- Explains what is a diagnostic test, the meaning of a positive or negative result.(NYSDOH, 5/2020)
- Guidance On Contacts of a Contact (NYSDOH, 4/2020)
NYSDOH Guidance questions should be directed to
NYSDOH COVID-19 Hotline:1-888-364-3065 or this new dedicated email for school questions: schoolquestionscovid@health.ny.gov

Page updated 1/22/2021
The NYSED Recovering, Rebuilding and Renewing: The Spirit of New York's Schools page provides the Reopening Guidance Executive Summary and FAQs, and links to resources on social-emotional learning and mental health, teaching remotely, health and safety and Regional Task Force Meetings for school leaders and staff. (7/16/20)
- Reopening Schools Guidance Please note that the FAQ below supersedes this guidance on return to school-you must read the FAQ!
- Press Release: State Education Department Issues Guidance to Reopen New York State Schools (7/16/20)
- School Reopening FAQs (7/22/20)
- Reopening Guidance for Religious and Independent School (7/27/20)
- Eligibility for Interscholastic Athletics, Inclusive Athletic and Extracurricular Activities (9/1/20)
- Responding to the Challenges of Learning in Masked Environments (10/23/20)
NYSED Guidance questions should be directed to ReopeningGuidance@nysed.gov

Page updated 1/22/2021
CDC considerations below are meant to supplement—not replace—state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which schools must comply.

CDC Schools and Childcare Plan, Prepare, Respond Webpage
Provides guidance and resources on transmission, prevention, mitigation cleaning, disinfection & hand hygiene, protecting staff, masks, screening, and testing, case investigation and contact tracing, FAQs for Administrators, Teachers, and P arents, including checklists and tips to help plan for in-person, virtual, and at-home learning.

Note: NYS must follow NYSDOH Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure (NYSDOH, 5//31/20)

Page updated 1/22/2021
COVID-19 Resources for Schools
Students, and FamiliesProvides information on online education and accessibility, protecting civil rights of and privacy impact on assessments and accountability under ESSA, Readiness Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA). The bottom of the page contains a link to FERPA and information on sharing personally identifiable information during COVID-19. the direct link to the FERPA webpage is provided below.

U.S. Education Department Student Privacy Page
Provides a recorded webinar that addresses 10 common scenarios and questions on FERPA FERPA & COVID-19 FAQs, a resource list on FERPA, and Virtual Learning Blog Post: May Schools Disclose Information about Cases of COVID-19?
Page updated 1/22/2021
U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Webpage

Provides resources on respiratory and infection prevention, wage, labor, and leave information and information for dislocated workers.

U.S Department of Labor (USDOL) FAQs related to employees’ need for paid leave.

US Department of Labor Control and Prevention Information from OSHA

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

US Department of Labor Respiratory Protection Information from OSHA
PESH

The Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau (PESH), enforces safety and health standards promulgated under the US Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSA). They provide free consultation surveys at the request of a public employer. The contact information is located here.

Page updated 1/22/2021

Testing and Data Resources

NYS School COVID-19 Testing and Reporting

BinaxNow™ tests, training, and resources; Limited-Service Labs, Communicable Disease, and ECLRS (Electronic Clinical Lab Reporting)), Executive Orders, Non-Patient-Specific Orders, and Testing Consent.

Comments (-1)
NYS School Report Card | Micro-Cluster Strategy

Provides COVID-19 testing results by school/school regions, State results dashboard by region, NYS Micro-Cluster Strategies, maps, and restrictions, COVID Hot Spot Zones, and contact information for the Governor's Press Office.

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School Specific Resources

Additional Resources

New York City| Other States Reopening Info

NYC 2020–2021 NYC School Reopening Plan, NYC|DOHMH|NYCTest+Trace Corps (T2) COVID Response and NYSCSH Compilation of U.S. States Reopening Plans and Resources.

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Other Organizations Resources On Reopening

Compilation of resources from the Enterprise Institute, UCLA Center for Mental Health, NASN, NASP, NFHS, NYSAHPERD, NYSPHSAA, American Federation of Teachers, Frontline Education, Learning Policy Institute, and SHAPE America.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Information

NYS is currently in Phase 1a and initial groups from Phase 1b of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. School nurses; and school medical directors who are are providing direct care (such as physical exams and in-person assessments) are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the 1a distribution groups. Teachers and educators are in group 1b.

Appointments are REQUIRED to be vaccinated. Note that due to limited supply of the COVID vaccine from the federal government, it could take up to 14 weeks for eligible New Yorkers to schedule their vaccine shot. Click here to learn more.

NYSDOH Health Commerce System (HCS) Account Memos: Memos regarding COVID-19 vaccine administration were released by NYSDOH on 1/11/21 through the HCS. They cover details on vaccine administration, information regarding what is needed for proof of occupation/eligibility to receive the vaccine and guidance for the administration of the second dose to providers administering the vaccine. Log in to your HCS account to read these memos in full.

Please contact your local health department, NYSDOH, or the Governor's Office with any questions or concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.
The Governor’s office can be contacted through his website form at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form or call 1-518-474-8390 from 9 am to 5 pm daily. The NYSDOH may be contacted at COVID19Vaccine@health.ny.gov You can also contact your local health department regarding your eligibility.

Additional Ways to Connect

	Connect With Us - Subscribe to our Health Information Portal for updates from the Center and the NYSED.
	Connect with Each Other - Like and follow the NYSCSH Facebook page for additional resources.
	Connect Across NYS - Check the NYSDOH "How You Can Help" page for ideas on helpin g your community .
	Connect With The Positive - "Lean on Me" performed as a Virtual Ensemble by the Glen Cove Music Teachers

Resources are provided for informational purposes and do not constitute or infer an endorsement of specific vendors or services by the NYSED|NYSCSH. NYSED|NYSCSH is not responsible for the content of the individual organization materials or external website links provided as resources.

Last Modified Yesterday at 6:31 PM

New York State Center for School Health

Supporting Student Success Through Health and Education

Resources

Messages from the Center

Trending Information and Updates

01/21/21 | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Official Website (Updated Daily)

01/21/21 | NYSDOH - What You Need to Know- Includes Update on Vaccine Distribution (Updated Daily)

01/15/21 | Guidance for  NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Program Effective 1/15/21

01/08/21 | Governor Cuomo Updates Information On Vaccination For Group 1b (includes education staff)

State and Federal Resources

Testing and Data Resources

NYS School COVID-19 Testing and Reporting

NYS School Report Card | Micro-Cluster Strategy

School Specific Resources

Additional Resources

New York City| Other States Reopening Info

Other Organizations Resources On Reopening

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

CDC and FDA Vaccine Safety and Post Vaccine Management

Immunization Action Ccoaltion COVID-19 Resource Page

NYSDOH COVID-19 Vaccine Web Pages and Vaccine Tracker

Additional Ways to Connect

Resources

Messages from the Center

Trending Information and Updates

01/21/21 | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Official Website (Updated Daily)

01/21/21 | NYSDOH - What You Need to Know- Includes Update on Vaccine Distribution (Updated Daily)

01/15/21 | Guidance for NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Program Effective 1/15/21

01/08/21 | Governor Cuomo Updates Information On Vaccination For Group 1b (includes education staff)

State and Federal Resources

Testing and Data Resources

NYS School COVID-19 Testing and Reporting

NYS School Report Card | Micro-Cluster Strategy

School Specific Resources

Additional Resources

New York City| Other States Reopening Info

Other Organizations Resources On Reopening

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

CDC and FDA Vaccine Safety and Post Vaccine Management

Immunization Action Ccoaltion COVID-19 Resource Page

NYSDOH COVID-19 Vaccine Web Pages and Vaccine Tracker

Additional Ways to Connect

01/15/21 | Guidance for  NYS COVID-19 Vaccination Program Effective 1/15/21