Hempstead Elementary School, Pomona Middle School and Ramapo High School in the East Ramapo School District are closed due to confirmed cases of coronavirus. Students at each school tested positive. Those three schools are shut through March 20th. All East Ramapo schools and the administration building remain closed today. The numbers across the country, state and county continue to rise as testing results return – New York now has the most cases nationwide. Rockland’s sheriff has reportedly suspended inmates’ visitation to prevent coronavirus from hitting the jail population. People have been making runs on hand sanitizer, so to combat price gouging, the governor announced yesterday the state would be putting the prison population to work to make sanitizer and provide it free to schools and other government institutions. In his press briefing yesterday, Andrew Cuomo said the hysteria and panic surrounding coronavirus is unwarranted, but certain groups, including the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, should be careful…
The governor is also calling for a paid sick leave quarantine bill, and he’s looking to the state legislature to pass that quickly. He’s hoping that would encourage people to stay home if they need to. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says as of now there are no plans to close anything in town……
Rockland and Westchester state senator David Carlucci is hosting a free informational session with Crystal Run Healthcare and the Mental Health Association of Rockland County for those who are concerned about the virus. It’s being held tomorrow at 6pm at Crystal Run Healthcare at 2 Centerock Road in West Nyack. If you are concerned about symptoms or travel, call the Department of Health’s coronavirus hotline at 1-888-364-3065. Click here for the Rockland County Health Department’s coronavirus website.