COVID19 Infections In Schools In Long Island Increased By 64%, According to State Department Of Health

Most public schools on Long Island are working to inform parents of COVID19 infections at a time when the number cases increased by more than 60%, according to the latest state data. 

More than 6,400 school-aged residents in Nassau and Suffolk counties had tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, according to the latest lab reports compiled by the state Department of Health.

 Those numbers were up 64% from the 3,920 517-year-old residents reported infected between September 11. September 1 and 29. National and local authorities have said in recent weeks that infection rates remain manageable in an area with a school population of more than 400,000 students. 

Authorities at both levels have stepped up efforts to inform the public of the numbers of affected students, teachers and other school staff. 

However, the District of Hempstead, which is Nassau's largest K12 system, was recently targeted for failing to report cases in Albany, as required by the state. District Superintendent Regina Armstrong told Newsday on Wednesday that COVID19 data will be reported correctly, starting this week.

Armstrong said 21 people in the district were infected last month and the system was forced in one case to send an entire class home for distance learning for about 10 days. All other classes continued to receive tuition fees five days a week, the superintendent said.