SHARING FACTS A screen-grab showing Sullivan County Public Health Services Medical Director Dr. Bruce Ellsweig addresses viewers during the recent online forum on measures being taken as COVID-19 infections rise. sullivanny.gov photo
Online COVID-19 forum outlines safety precautions
By Nicole Davis | Manor Ink
Livingston Manor, NY – Unless you have just wakened from a year-long coma, you are aware that for the past nine months a deadly virus, COVID-19, has been affecting the entire world, striking over 55 million people worldwide and killing over one million.
We are all exhausted after many months of living in fear of the illness while having to take necessary precautions. Plans continue to be postponed, time with family and friends is curtailed and a constant need to wear masks is still prevalent to ensure safety.
Education a challenge
One of the greatest challenges we are coping with is how to continue educating students. Children still need to be taught. Educational requirements still need to be met in order to provide opportunities for the youth of our generation. But many parents are afraid to risk their children’s lives by sending them to school.
Keeping Students safe
At Livingston Manor Central School, students have the option of going fully remote, where they can perform all of their school duties from the safety of their home Monday through Friday. Families can also choose to bring their student to school Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, all students learn from home on their computer in virtual classes over various educational platforms.
Livingston Manor Central School has implemented many safety measures in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to reassure families.
To address concerns about school safety and COVID-19, Sullivan County Public Health Services and Sullivan BOCES held an online forum on Nov. 4. Director Nancy McGraw led the session and answered questions from school staff and parents.
The school administration has implemented many safety measures throughout the building. LMCS Nurse Mary Davis stressed that there are many safeguards in place, such as daily screening questionnaires, temperature checks upon entering the building and close communication between faculty, administration and parents.
“There is also an intricate plan for how the school monitors and handles COVID-19 positive cases,” Davis said. “The school is in very close contact with Sullivan County Public Health in order to maintain the students’ and faculty’s safety. When the school is notified about a positive case of COVID-19, a multilevel response has already begun.”
Contact tracing essential
Once a positive case has been ascertained, the LMCS staff, in conjunction with Public Health, will determine who else is at risk of contracting the disease based on whether protective measures were taken, including mask wearing, plastic shields, social distancing, and windows and doors being open. “We have become biological investigators,” Davis said with a laugh. “The team of professionals retrace the steps of the infected individual and determine how to handle the situation.”
Once a contact tracing list is developed, it is given to county health officials and they pass it on to the state Department of Health in Albany in order to start contacting the individuals at risk. The extensive process ensures the well-being of the students and everyone else in the LMCS building.
To prepare for another period of quarantine, if another one is put in place this month, Livingston Manor stated that students and teachers must practice a full remote schedule.
The Public Health Services online meeting is available for viewing on the LMCS website at lmcs.k12.ny.us. Parents and students with questions are asked to contact Livingston Manor Central School at 439-4400, or Public Health Services at sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth for answers.
Prevent the spread of COVID-19 and abide by the safety precautions. Stay safe!