PINE BUSH – Three employees of the Pine Bush Central School District have tested positive for COVID-19, Superintendent Tim Mains said.
He wrote on the district website that on Tuesday, June 16, he was alerted by the Orange County Health Department that a district employee had tested positive. Late Wednesday afternoon, Mains said it was determined the individual was an employee from the district office.
He notified people who may have interacted with the individual and encouraged them to go for a COVID-19 test or consult with their physician.
As a result of the positive cases, “all district office employees have been directed to self-quarantine for 14 days, and most are working from home as they are able,” Mains said. That includes himself.
The superintendent said one of the individuals who tested positive worked in the high school gymnasium last Wednesday with other election inspectors counting ballots. “Since it is entirely possible that more ballot counters could learn about positive test results in the coming days, the health department recommended that all of those individuals be self-quarantined as well,” he said. “Since many individuals in this group are employees in every school and nearly every other office throughout the district, they will also be working from home as they are able.”
Main said the spread of the virus “may have been accelerated because many of us, social animals that we are, have gotten lax. I’ve noticed folks are having lunch in close quarters, without masks and not socially distanced. Let this be a reminder to all of us to be cautious and keep our distance (more than six feet) even when we are socializing.”
“Since it is entirely possible that more ballot counters could learn about test results in the coming days, the health department also recommended that all of those individuals be self-quarantined as well,” he said.
“I want to emphasize to our parents and families that none of the positive cases would have jeopardized our food preparation and distribution program at our Children’s Meals Stops, nor should you need to worry about the pickup of belongings that has occurred throughout the week,” Mains said.
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