Chappaqua Coronavirus Cluster rises to 13

Chappaqua Coronavirus Cluster rises to 13: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning that new Coronavirus cases in Chappaqua linked to Horace Greeley graduation events has jumped to 13. This is up from the four new cases he announced on Saturday, when he ordered an investigation into the events associated with this new cluster.

The outbreak is reportedly tied to a teenager who had recently travelled to Florida before attending the Horace Greeley High School drive-in graduation event at Chappaqua Station on June 20. Sometime after the graduation event, the teen began showing COVID symptoms and was then tested positive. The teen had contact at the graduation event with at least four people who subsequently tested positive. Graduation ceremonies continued with private parties and at a major Field Night event the following day that was populated by a broad base of Greeley students along with teens from other communities. No contact tracing details were offered on the additional cases reported this morning though they are being linked in press reports to the graduation events.

NYS DOH Investigation

Dr. Howard Zucker, NY State Commissioner of Health released a letter on Sunday announcing that the NYS DOH is working with officials from Horace Greeley HS to identify everyone who attended the drive-in ceremony as well as subsequent graduation events – they in turn will be contacted by NY State contact tracers. Additionally, he announced that public health professionals have contacted all the new COVID patients and that they are all self-quarantining through July 5 – 14 days from the original events.

The State and County DOH encourage testing for anybody who attended the graduation ceremony or the Field Night event and may have come in contact with an infected individual. For information about testing, contact your local healthcare provider, or visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-testing.

In addition to contact tracing and quarantining efforts, Governor Cuomo has ordered the NYS DOH to investigate the Chappaqua Coronavirus cluster to determine if the graduation ceremony followed DOH Graduation Ceremony guidance released on June 14. The guidance outlined protective measures including social distancing, limitations on number of attendees, wearing face coverings, and other precautions.

In a Special Edition Town Hall e-News the New Castle Town Board released a detailed Q&A.

Here are some of the highlights:

> Anyone who attend the graduation ceremony, Field Night event or events associated with graduation that continued into June 21st are mandated by NYS DOH to quarantine through July 5.

> That includes attendees who were wearing a mask!

> Anybody who attended the graduation ceremony or the Field Night event and may have come in contact with an infected individual should get tested.

> The July 5 Quarantine Mandate applies even if you test negative for COVID-19!

> The New Castle Police Department will not enforce quarantine – nor do they have a list of those in attendance of the graduation events under investigation.

> You can file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s travel advisory by calling 1-833-789-0470 or visit https://mylicense.custhelp.com/app/ask

> Cuomo’s travel advisory currently includes Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas,

> If you have come into contact with a COVID-19 positive person you will receive a call from NYS Contact Tracing (518-387-9993) – please answer the phone.

> Anyone attending graduation parties or other events after June 21 without social distancing or wearing a mask should consider self-quarantining.

> The town will not share names of anyone who tested positive in accordance with HIPAA protections.

> Contact Tracers will not ask for your Social Security Number, credit card or financial information and will never send a link without proper authentication procedures.

> Finally, there will be no “lockdown” as a result of recent events. Facilities, parks, businesses, and restaurants remain open pursuant to Phase 3 NY Forward Guidelines