#NY student sparks COVID-19 cluster after returning from Florida

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday called on state investigators to probe a COVID-19 cluster in Westchester, believed to be caused by a student who returned from coronavirus hotspot Florida — and then attended a graduation ceremony in posh Chappaqua.

The unidentified student began showing symptoms after the June 20 “drive in” ceremony at the Chappaqua train station for graduating seniors at Horace Greeley High School, Cuomo said.

Since then, four others in attendance have tested positive for COVID-19, he added.

“New Yorkers have controlled the spread of this unprecedented virus by being smart and disciplined, and our progress to date is illustrated by the current low numbers of new cases and hospitalizations,” Cuomo said.

“But as we are seeing in other states who reopened quickly, the pandemic is far from over and we need (to) stay vigilant. We’re prepared to do the aggressive testing and contact tracing required to slow and ultimately control any potential clusters of new cases like the one in Westchester County.”

The infected student also participated in a non-school related “Field Night” event the same day along with juniors and seniors and students from surrounding school districts, Cuomo said.

Those who attended the ceremony or other graduation events, which continued into June 21, were told to quarantine until July 5.

Some in Chappaqua — where Bill and Hillary Clinton famously purchased a home in 1999 — reportedly are shaming the student.

“To people shaming 1 girl for spreading coronavirus around Chappaqua, you’re wrong. People weren’t social distancing OR wearing masks. She may have brought it, but to blame it on her while you allow it to transmit It’s not right. The source doesn’t matter as much as the flow,” the person tweeted, Patch reported.

The governor also announced Saturday that any state worker who voluntarily travels to high-risk states after June 25 is ineligible for COVID-19 paid sick leave.

A Cuomo-issued advisory — which took effect Thursday — directs travelers returning to New York from states with high coronavirus infection rates to self quarantine for 14 days.

The number of New Yorkers testing positive for the coronavirus dropped below 1 percent to .96 percent, Cuomo’s office said Saturday.

There were 73,262 tests conducted in the state with 703 positive results.

The state reported 13 coronavirus deaths Friday and 908 people hospitalized with the bug, down 43 from the day before.