Syracuse elementary school reports a staff coronavirus case, will deep-clean over the weekend

Syracuse, N.Y. — A staff member at Salem-Hyde elementary school in Syracuse has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Superintendent Jaime Alicea told parents this afternoon that an employee of the school informed the district today that they had tested positive for the virus.

The person was last in the building Thursday, and did not report for work today after testing positive.

The Onondaga County Health Department has been notified and has begun contact tracing, Alicea said.

“They will be in touch with those, both staff members and students, who they believe may have been exposed to the individual who tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member will be isolating at home for the mandated period of time and will not return to work until they are cleared to by the County Health Department,” Alicea told parents in an email.

This is the second case since the Syracuse schools opened this week for in-person classes. On Thursday, the district announced that Fowler High School had a staff member there test positive for the virus. That school building was closed today and students learned online.

The district is not saying at this point whether Salem Hyde will be closed next week. It plans to deep-clean and sanitize the school over the weekend. Schools are closed Monday for the observance of Columbus Day.

“Our custodians have already begun thoroughly disinfecting and sanitizing the areas of the building where the person was present.  Further disinfection, including spraying the entire building utilizing our electrostatic sprayers, will be completed this weekend,” Alicea said.

Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, public affairs and the Syracuse City School District. Reach her at email | Twitter| Facebook | cell 315-470-2246.