"We have guidance it's just not clear" confusion remains over school testing protocols

BALDWINSVILLE — A union representing 600,000 New York teachers is demanding state health officials issue clear protocols regarding positive COVID-19 cases in schools.

New York State United Teachers want to know how and when school districts must close their buildings, how health officials will perform contact tracing and initiate quarantines.

During his briefing over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said parents should be asking schools, “How are you going to test the students?How many are you going to test per day?" The comments confused school leaders across the state.

Superintendents have said it conflicts with what is mentioned in the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) reopening guidelines (page 41)...which says schools should not conduct COVID-19 testing on their own.

It is strongly recommended that schools comply with CDC guidance and not conduct COVID-19 testing or require testing or antibody testing of students or staff members. The decision of whether a test needs to be conducted should be determined by a healthcare provider or the local department of health.

In a statement to CNY Central Wednesday, Cuomo spokesperson Jason Conwall said,

“The Department of Health guidance serves as the mandatory baseline of health and safety protocols for school districts to follow and testing is part of a continuum of mitigation efforts that includes mandatory daily temperature checks and other additional screening, testing for symptomatic individuals or exposures and contact tracing in the event of a positive case. Districts must have a plan in place for testing related to symptomatic or exposed individuals, whether in school or through the local health department, that includes timely delivery of results and any ensuing testing of additional individuals. Additionally, any positive cases must be tracked through established contact tracing protocols and in coordination with the local health department. DOH guidance allows districts to implement additional testing protocols.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon came out earlier this week saying they are working with school districts on a testing plan. If feasible, testing all employees and if capacity allows, some high school students. Citing older students as having a higher risk of infection.

"To expedite testing...that’s a home run," saidBaldwinsville Central School District superintendent Matthew McDonald. "However, we got NYSED and the health department saying, "no we’ve been advised not to do that." Right now we have to sit on it and wait to say okay, what’s it going to be?”

Going off infection data, Cuomo says he will issue his decision on whether schools can partially or fully reopen later this week.