Jan. 27 COVID-19 cases

City School District of Albany

The City School District of Albany was notified Thursday of 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Albany County Health Department identified no additional contacts with these cases unless otherwise noted below. All positive individuals and any associated unvaccinated contacts are quarantining at home. 

Please be aware that every home in the United States is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

Three cases involve Albany High School:

  • In one case associated with 10th grade, the individual was last in the building Jan. 25. The health department has identified eight additional contacts, but four are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.
  • Another case is associated with 12th grade. This individual was last in the building Jan. 19. The health department has identified eight additional contacts, but five are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.
  • In the final case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 26.

Three cases involve Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST):

  • In a case associated with second grade, the individual was last in the building Jan. 24. The health department has identified seven additional contacts, but two are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.
  • Another case is associated with fourth grade. The individual was last in the building Jan. 25. The health department has identified 14 additional contacts, but two are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.
  • In the third case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 25. The health department has identified two additional contacts, but one is not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated. 

Three cases involve William S. Hackett Middle School:

  • Two cases are associated with seventh grade. In one case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 21. The health department has identified no additional contacts. In the other case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 27. The health department has identified 14 additional contacts who are required to quarantine.
  • In the third case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 25. The health department has identified two additional contacts, but neither is required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.

Two cases involve Albany School of Humanities (ASH). In one case associated with fifth grade, the individual was last in the building Jan. 19. In the other case, the individual was last in the building Jan. 16. The health department has identified 15 additional contacts, but four are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated.

One case is associated with Edmund J. O’Neal School of Excellence. The individual was last in the building Jan. 25.

Another case is associated with first grade at Eagle Point Elementary School. This individual was last in the building Dec. 21.

Another case is associated with first grade at Montessori Magnet School. This individual was last in the building Jan. 26.

Another case is associated with fourth grade at New Scotland Elementary School. This individual was last in the building Jan. 24. The health department has identified nine additional contacts, but seven are not required to quarantine as they are fully vaccinated. 

Thursday’s final case is associated with second grade at Sheridan Preparatory Academy. This individual was last in the building Jan. 21.

Health and safety procedures at all district buildings continue to include cleaning and sanitizing. We will continue with these procedures, and also will continue to follow all required COVID-19 precautions (wearing masks inside all district buildings, hand hygiene, social distancing of 3 feet or more in all classrooms, and other precautions).

We also would like to remind everyone of steps you can take to help be safe:

  1. Maintain social distance at all times from those you don’t live with.
  2. Always wear a mask that covers both the mouth and nose when inside at school or when your student is riding a bus to or from school.
  3. Wash hands with soap and water frequently when out of your home. If you cannot use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  4. Don’t touch the eyes, nose or mouth unless your hands are clean.
  5. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE SICK OR HAVE SYMPTOMS:
  • Signs of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue/tiredness, muscle/body aches or pains, congestion, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea, headache, loss of taste or smell, rash, feeling sick or unwell in any way. 
  • You can pick up a COVID-19 rapid test kit at your school, and the district accepts at-home rapid test results as well.
  • You can get an in-person COVID-19 PCR test at six district locations. Click here to find the location most convenient for you. 
  • You also can get a COVID-19 PCR test by calling the New York State Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 364-3065, or Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center at (518) 407-0172 or (518) 465-4771. 
  • In alignment with the recommendations of federal, state and local health and medical professionals, the district strongly encourages everyone 5 and older who is eligible and able to get a COVID-19 vaccination.