Recommendations for rapid antigen COVID-19 test use (May 2023)
Click here to read the recommendations.
NYS: What Parents/Caregivers Should Know about COVID Mitigation Strategies for the 2022-2023 School Year (August 2022)
The document issued by the state Departments of Education and Health provides a detailed overview of what parents/caregivers should know for this school year. The document includes information about vaccinations, quarantine, staying home when sick/symptomatic, testing and masking.
CDC and New York State release new guidance documents (August 2022)
The CDC issued the Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning. Shortly thereafter, a joint memo was released from NYSED and NYDOH, which encouraged school districts to utilize the CDC guidance as a resource for COVID-19 mitigating strategies.
COVID exposure protocol document (March 4, 2022)
Questar III developed this document to share with students or staff who may be exposed to a COVID case.
NYSDOH releases new guidance (March 1, 2022)
The New York State Department of Health released new guidance this evening as well as a joint letter with the State Education Commissioner and an FAQ.
Governor announces the end of the mask mandate in schools, effective March 2 (February 27, 2022)
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans to end the state mask requirement in schools starting on March 2, 2022.
NYDOH releases testing and quarantine update (February 4, 2022)
The State Health Department released Revised Updated Testing and Quarantine Supplemental Information to the Interim NYSDOH Guidance for Classroom Instruction in P-12 Schools During the 2021-2022 Academic Year.
New York State’s Mask Mandate Remains in Effect (January 25, 2022)
While the Nassau County Supreme Court ruled in the matter of Demetriou et al. v. New York State Dep’t of Health et al. that the Department of Health exceeded its authority when it mandated masks in schools, the ruling was appealed and stayed. As a result, staff and students in public school districts are required to continue wearing masks while on school property. The District has no discretion to waiver or modify the masking requirement at this time.
New York State’s Approach to Isolation and Quarantine (January 14, 2022)
The state updated its approach to isolation and quarantine via a memo to school districts, frequently asked questions for schools, and an isolation and quarantine table. Please visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing for more information.
NYSDOH COVID quarantine and isolation in the schools setting letter (January 10, 2022)
The state sent school administrators and local health departments this letter to clarify its January 4, 2022 interim updated guidance on isolation and quarantine.
Quarantine & Isolation Guidance (January 7, 2022)
For information regarding new quarantine and isolation guidance, click here.
COVID Testing Protocol Chart (January 6, 2022)
For information related to COVID-19 testing, including Surveillance, Exposure, and Point-of-Care, click here.
Guidance for The New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program for Individuals 12 Years of Age or Older (January 6, 2022)
For more information related to healthcare providers offering COVID-19 vaccinations to adolescents and adults age 12 and older, click here.
Guidance for the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program: Vaccination of Children Ages 5-11 (January 6, 2022)
For more information related to healthcare providers offering COVID-19 vaccinations to adolescents and adults age 5 to 11, click here.
Interim Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance (January 4, 2022)
This is interim guidance. CDC guidance is in flux and will be reviewed by NYSDOH as it is released. Additional requirements may be added.
Test to Stay Update (December 23, 2021)
The New York State Department of Health provided Local Health Departments (LHDs) with clarification on the new information regarding testing and quarantine, particularly Test to Stay (TTS).
Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.60 (December 10, 2021)
Read the Commissioner’s determination about requiring the wearing of face coverings/masks inside schools.
Commissioner’s Determination on COVID-19 Testing Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.62 (December 8, 2021)
Read the determination requiring COVID-19 testing of all faculty and staff at all New York P-12 schools.
COVID-19 Reporting and Testing: Emergency Regulation (December 1, 2021)
All schools are required to report COVID-19 testing results to the DOH effective immediately.
Face Coverings for COVID-19 Prevention: Emergency Regulation (November 24, 2021)
Read the emergency regulation concerning the wearing of face coverings/masks in schools.
Return to School Algorithm (November 24, 2021)
For guidance for students who have signs or symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination, click here.
Pediatric Vaccination Guidance (November 10, 2021)
On November 2, 2021, following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EUA) on October 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP’s) recommendation for children ages 5-11 to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This is the first authorized vaccine to be permitted for use in this age group. All children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive a two-dose primary series of the pediatric formulation Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, effective immediately. Parents or guardians with questions about the vaccine are encouraged to talk to their child’s pediatrician or another trusted healthcare provider. Please review this document here. Note: This document applies specifically to healthcare providers offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 5-11. Guidance for the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program pertaining to individuals ages 12 and older can be found on the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Providers page.
New York State COVID-19 Data Hub (October 20, 2021)
Governor Hochul announced the creation of the NYS COVID-19 Data Hub as a one stop shop on all of New York’s COVID-19 information. You can access it here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-data-new-york
Interim NYSDOH Guidance for Classroom Instruction in P-12 School During the 2021-2022 School Year (September 2, 2021)
On September 2, the NYS Department of Health released new guidance for schools for the 2021-2022 school year. In this document, schools are advised to work from the prior year’s Reopening Plan, remove outdated pieces, and align it to the current CDC recommendations outlined in the guidance. Please review this document here.
Contact Tracing Guidelines (January 7, 2022)
We have participated with dozens of local school districts, BOCES, and public health officials to create regional procedures for contact tracing that will be in use in several capital region counties. There are several methods we will use to determine close contacts of any positive case in our buildings, and these vary based on whether the contact was student-to-student, adult-to-student, or adult-to-adult, and for each situation in which someone may be exposed – the classroom, on the bus, in the lunchroom or during sports. These have been summarized in a series of flowcharts, available here.
New York State DOH Masking Requirement (August 27, 2021)
On August 27, the NYSDOH issued “Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking Pursuant to 10 NYCRR 2.61”. This guidance requires universal masking of teachers, staff, students and visitors to P-12 schools over the age of two and able to medically tolerate a mask regardless of vaccination status. This requirement will remain in place until modified or rescinded, and is subject to applicable CDC-recommended exceptions.
New York State Travel Updates (June 25, 2021)
As of June 25, 2021, the New York State Travel Advisory is no longer in effect. As such, travelers arriving in New York are no longer required to submit traveler health forms. All travelers, domestic and international, should continue to follow all CDC travel requirements.
Capital Region Vaccine Network
With COVID-19 vaccines readily available, Albany Medical Center has created the online Capital Region Vaccine Network. It compiles information that can help you or someone in your family locate vaccine sites across Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties. Visit the Capital Region Vaccine Network here.