NEW ROCHELLE, NY — New York State established a yellow COVID zone in parts of New Rochelle and in several other communities of Westchester. New Rochelle’s zone covers about half of the 10801 zip code and a portion of the 10805 zip code.
Notable in the Yellow Zone:
Government
- New Rochelle City Hall
- City School District of New Rochelle Offices
Houses of Worship
- Bethesda Baptist Church
- AMC Zion Church
- St. Paul’s Church
- Holy Family Church
Post-Secondary Institutions
- Monroe College
- Iona College
Elementary & Secondary Schools
- Christopher Columbus Elementary School
- Trinity Elementary School
- Isaac E. Young Middle School
- Daniel Webster Elementary School
- Salesian High School
Restaurants
- Modern Pizza
- Coromandel
- Westchester Taco
- Mirage Diner
Within the yellow zone, restaurant dining is limited to 4 people per table, houses of worship are limited to 50% capacity, and non-residential gatherings are restricted to a maximum of 25 people. Gatherings at private homes are limited to a maximum of ten people state-wide.
Within a declared a “yellow zone,” schools must close unless they meet the following conditions:
Schools must test 20% of in-person students, faculty and staff over the two-week period immediately following the announcement of a yellow zone designation. If the results of the testing reveal that the positivity rate among those tested is lower than the yellow zone’s current 7-day positivity rate, testing at that school will no longer be required to continue.
The logistics of these requirements is high as is the cost of implementation likely resting in schools in a Yellow Zone to close and return to remote learning.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero has announced the City School District of New Rochelle, with the exception of a cohort of special education classes, will revert to a fully virtual learning experience, effective tomorrow, November 20. This will remain in effect until at least December 3.
“We have made this decision in consultation with the Westchester County Department of Health because a large portion of our District has been designated as a yellow zone by New York State. This designation indicates a concerning increase in the spread of COVID-19,” said Marrero. “We are working with Montefiore to establish protocols to provide COVID-19 testing for 20% of the special education student population as well as the faculty and staff that will be on site in the schools located within the yellow zone. Montefiore has assured us that they have the capacity to test 20% of this population on a weekly basis, if required.”
Read the entire Superintendent statement here.
Prior to the Yellow Zone announcement the City School District of New Rochelle had already closed New Rochelle High School, Daniel Webster Magnet School and Columbus Elementary School and switched them to all virtual learning. COVID-related absences and quarantines have left those schools with inadequate staff to ensure the proper supervision for students.
Statement from FUSE President Mary Claire Breslin
Dear Dr. Marrero,
FUSE is extremely dismayed that the district made a unilateral decision without any consultation or discussion with FUSE leadership. FUSE does not consider a phone call from Mr. Scordo at 1:02 p.m., followed by a districtwide robocall at 1:03 p.m., prior notification. This is not a good faith effort to work cooperatively with FUSE.
Since New Rochelle is now a designated yellow zone, FUSE requests the following:
1. A complete list of staff members who may not work remotely and why. Please include names, titles, and work locations.
2. The entire district plan to perform the required 20% testing of students, faculty and staff.
3. Who will administer these tests?
4. When will staff be notified that these tests are not mandatory? Staff, like students, cannot be mandated to be tested.
5. When and who will analyze the test results?
6. When will the positivity rate for both students and staff be shared with FUSE, staff, and community members?
7. Why is the health and safety of some more important than the health and safety of others?
The health and safety of ALL staff matters.
FUSE looks forward to your response.
Respectfully,
Starting Monday November 23rd, City Hall will be closed to the public, except by appointment.
Statement from David Dimond Senior Vice President, New Rochelle Campus, Monroe College
We began our Fall semester with the vast majority of students and faculty in virtual classrooms, and our staff working mostly from home (Public Safety, Facilities, and other essential employees being the exception). While keeping a close eye on trends in our surrounding communities and throughout the tri state area, and out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision over this past weekend to transition back to nearly all-virtual classes, which went into effect Tuesday. We have also throttled back the limited number of folks we have had on campus, and now have all offices working mostly virtually, at least for the foreseeable future.
We fully appreciate the continued work and support of the New Rochelle and New York State authorities to take the steps they deem necessary to protect all of us as this pandemic continues to be a challenge.
Court System Going Virtual
The entire court system of the 9th Judicial District is effected by COVID, that includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange. As of Monday, the New Rochelle City Court like others will operate one courtroom at a time with limited attendance of no more than 10 people per hour with one judge and move quickly to 80% virtual for all civil and criminal cases and limited staff on premises.
Free coronavirus tests are still available at the drive-thru center at Glen Island and at the walk-thru center on Guion Place by Montefiore Hospital. To schedule a test, call 1-888-364-3065.
November 13th COVID Guidelines:
Effective November 13 at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.
- SLA licensed establishments, including bars and restaurants, will close daily at 10 p.m. Bowling alleys that have liquor licenses are also included in the new measure.
- After 10 p.m. restaurants will be able to provide curbside/food pickup only
- Gyms will also close daily at 10 p.m.
Latest information at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home.
Links to Further Information:
City School District of New Rochelle