P.S. 41 Queens Notified Of Self-Reported Coronavirus Case

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A member of the P.S. 41 Queens community self-reported that they tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter obtained by Patch.

Principal Joseph Ferrara sent families a letter Tuesday to inform them of the news.

"With respect to the P.S. 41 community, I am writing to inform you that a member of our school community has self-reported that they tested positive for COVID-19," Ferrara wrote. "A disinfection of the school building has been completed in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines."

Ferrara referred questions about the COVID-19 case to the NYC Department of Education's press office. It's unclear whether the self-reported test result was independently confirmed and whether the person is a teacher, staffer, parent or student.

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“The City has been at community transmission for over a week, and it’s impossible to trace the source of exposure, but as of March 13, the City’s Health Department advised that a positive case in the school or workplace environment did not put others at higher risk than did anywhere else in the city," Department of Education spokesperson Miranda Barbot said in an emailed statement.

"Regardless, we have been deep cleaning buildings daily and supporting schools in notifying their communities of self-confirmed cases,” Barbot said.

In the letter, Ferrara advised families to call a doctor or 311 if they have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever or sore throat, and to visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus for schools-related guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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