HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Long Island has had more new COVID-19 cases in school students over the last month than anywhere else in New York State, according to new data.
According to the state Department of Health, over 6,500 school students in Nassau and Suffolk counties have tested positive for the virus over the last two weeks, accounting for a 68% increase.
While officials have said the infection rates remain manageable, there is a renewed focus on getting teenagers vaccinated to clamp down on a surge in cases.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said there will now be “vaccination days” at schools.
“[We’re] sort of continuing our effort to make this vaccine as accessible, getting the awareness and getting the education out there about the benefits of this vaccine,” the county executive said.
There will be pop up vaccination sites aimed at 12- to 17-year-olds in Hempstead at Kennedy Park for the rest of October. On Oct. 23, another site will be set up at the Roosevelt School homecoming, offering incentives like Amazon gift cards and movie tickets.
“While in the group of young people, we are outperforming the state and the national scene, we still have more work to do there,” Curran said.
Hempstead is the largest school district in Nassau County with more than 6,500 students, but parents note that they have been in the dark about the new cases – which are required to be reported to the state.
The superintendent told Newsday on Friday that the reporting would start this week.
In Levittown, new cases are up 41% from last month and at three of their schools there will be new outdoor learning spaces.
There's also an uptick of 108% in Massapequa school going from 51 to 106 new cases.
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