With the old two-case rule, many schools were forced to shut down after resuming in-person education. The New York City Department of Education has updated the shutdown rule to allow for a larger number of confirmed positive cases, and has given detailed circumstances under which a school may have to shut down. The details from the NYCDOE website have been transcribed below:

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One confirmed case

• The classroom of the positive case remain closed and quarantined for 10 days
• Students in the impacted classroom move to remote learning for 10 days
• Additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine

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Two or three confirmed cases in the same classroom within seven days

• The classroom of the positive cases remain closed and quarantined for 10 days
• Students in the impacted classroom move to remote learning for 10 days
• Additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine

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Two or three confirmed cases in different classrooms within seven days

• Classrooms of each case remain closed and quarantined for 10 days
• Students in the impacted classrooms move to remote learning for 10 days
• Additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine
• Weekly random COVID-19 testing is increased to 40% of the in-person school population, including vaccinated individuals

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Four or more confirmed cases in fewer than four classrooms within seven days

• The classroom of the positive cases remain closed and quarantined for 10 days
• Students in the impacted classroom move to remote learning for 10 days
• Additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine
• School remains open
• Weekly random COVID-19 testing is increased to 40% of the in-person school population, including vaccinated individuals

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Four or more confirmed cases in four different classrooms within seven days

DOHMH will initiate an investigation. If the investigation determines that:

1. Not all cases can be attributed to exposure/transmission in school, then:

• DOHMH will interview all cases
• The classroom of the positive cases remain closed and quarantined for 10 days
• Students in the impacted classroom move to remote learning for 10 days
• Additional school members are quarantined based on where the exposure was in the school
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine
• School remains open
• Weekly random COVID-19 testing is increased to 40% of the in-person school population, including vaccinated individuals

2. All cases are can be attributed to exposure/transmission in school, then

• DOHMH will interview all cases
• Entire school (not building) is closed for 10 days
• All students are moved to remote learning for 10 days
• Upon reopening, school resumes 20% weekly random COVID-19 testing

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TeloPoint is ready to help your school navigate through the updated requirements and increased testing requirements in the event that positive cases are found. Please reach out to begin on-site COVID-19 testing for your school by emailing m@telopoint.com today.