Westchester Health Department: Parishioners potentially exposed to COVID-19 at Pleasantville church

Multiple school districts are now putting out a warning to parents following a possible COVID-19 exposure at a Pleasantville church.

News 12 Staff

Sep 4, 2020, 10:12 AM

Updated 1,492 days ago

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Multiple school districts are now putting out a warning to parents following a possible COVID-19 exposure at a Pleasantville church.
The Westchester County Department of Health says many people, including children, were potentially exposed over several days of services at Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Parish.
They say a priest and staff member tested positive for coronavirus, which resulted in quarantine orders for those who attended select services last week, as well as the suspension of church services and office hours until Sept. 11.
Interim Administrator and Youth Minister Father Luke Hoyt says he tested positive on Aug. 28 during a routine test which all clergy in the archdiocese are asked to take on a regular basis.
He says the test was taken before he knew of his potential exposure. He then distributed First Communion to several students from Mount Pleasant and Pleasantville Schools on Aug. 29, the day after he was tested.
On Friday, Pleasantville Union Free School District Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter weighed in on the potential exposure, quarantine orders and what it means for students getting ready to go back to school.
"Right now, the way the model is, it's a hybrid model, which means there will be a remote component and in-person component, so those who are quarantining will experience their same education or their meeting or their things, remotely, asynchronously," Fox-Alter said.
Both Pleasantville and Mount Pleasant Schools along with the Department of Health are requiring those who attended morning Mass on Aug. 24 and 25, those who received communion on Aug. 29, and all Masses on Aug. 30, except for the 9 a.m. service, to quarantine for 14 days.