Reported COVID Infection Rates Relatively Low in NYS Schools

The Associated Press reports schools across New York have recorded that at least 1,200 students and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the academic year, though that number is likely an undercount.

As of Tuesday, September 20, 693 public and private schools had reported at least one infection. Around 700 students and 400 school staff have tested positive. State officials noted that the count doesn’t capture the full extent of infections among schoolchildren. A separate data system operated by state health officials documented around 2,300 infections among school-aged children since Sept. 1. The state is making both sets of numbers public.

An overall view of some schools in Broome County as of October 2 showed Binghamton City Schools, which has delayed the start of in-person learning due to an outbreak of COVID-19 on the West Side, has shown a total of five positives, Chenango Forks: two, Chenango Valley: 3, Johnson City: 3, Maine Endwell: zero, Union Endicott: 2 and Vestal 3.  All those numbers are total students and staff both on and off-campus learning and all the school district buildings.

The public, charter and private school listings along with higher education institutions and SUNY schools can be found at schoolcovidreportcard.health.ny.gov.