The health and safety of our students, staff and families is always a top priority. Please see the information below for updates about COVID-19 disseminated by the school district, and state and federal agencies.
Updates
Following an uptick in COVID-19 cases in New York, Superintendent Marie Digirolamo sent an email to the entire Rider Community about the ongoing precautions advised by state and federal agencies. These precautions are designed to prevent serious illness and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Individuals who suspect they might have COVID-19 should get tested. Symptoms of possible infection include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- New loss of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
State and federal agencies also encourage the following precautions:
- Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Learn more here.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating.
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when sick or symptomatic.
- Do not cough or sneeze into your hands; sneeze or cough into your elbow.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask to reduce your chance of exposure, which continues to be an option for all students and staff.
In addition, the CDC continues to advise people to isolate and take other precautions when they test positive. Please click here to read more.
Furthermore, if you test positive, the state Department of Health also has underscored the importance of reaching out to your health care provider about possible treatments. Such treatments have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the chances of serious outcomes, including hospitalization or death.
As of September 25, 2023, residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com again. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes #4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests (COVIDTests.gov has more details about at-home tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates)
- Orders will ship free starting the week of October 2, 2023
On August 29, Governor Kathy Hochul announced new steps the State of New York is taking to protect individuals from COVID-19 following reports of a new variant, BA.2.86. These steps come after COVID-19 hospitalizations in New York increased as the summer progressed.
On Sept. 13, the Governor updated New Yorkers on the CDC’s approval of an updated COVID-19 vaccine and urged New Yorkers to get the shot once it is available.
The updated vaccine, necessary due to waning immunity and mutated variants, was reformulated and developed in recent months following the FDA decision to target a subvariant of Omicron, called XBB.1.5. According to CDC, more than 90% of the COVID viruses circulating are closely related to that strain, with tests showing the updated vaccine effective at increasing immunity to a more recent variant, called BA.2.86, according to Hochul’s statement.
Governor Hochul and DOH have recommended that schools review current CDC school guidance for COVID-19 prevention and work with their local health department to implement effective and feasible public health measures.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the CDC recommends schools:
- Promote vaccination and testing;
- Encourage students, teachers, and faculty to stay home if they are sick and exhibiting symptoms;
- Optimize ventilation and maintain improvements to indoor air quality to reduce the risk of germs and contaminants spreading through the air; and
- Teach and reinforce proper handwashing and hygiene practices.
Where to Send Your Questions
We created and continuously updated our Contact Guide, where you can find the correct person to contact for a variety of concerns that may come up throughout the year. Additionally, the guide includes contact information for several administrators and staff.
District, Regional and State News Archives