For the first time since 2020, schools across New York state will start a new year without guidance related to COVID-19 from the state’s Department of Health.

Vigilance and courtesy are still encouraged because in some parts of the state, New York City, in particular, the virus is becoming more prevalent again as the summer season winds down.

But health experts and school administrators are reminding people that it is a treatable disease and should now be treated as such.

“I think we’ve done a really good job,” Questar III BOCES Superintendent Gladys Cruz said. “Have there been any academic slides? I would say 'yes.'”

Cruz led 22 school districts across three counties through the pandemic. She recently was sworn in as president of The School Superintendents Association, a national organization representing 13,000 public superintendents.  

“Either personally, professionally, we were all impacted,” Cruz said. “We’ve all suffered trauma.”  

Cruz and her colleagues across the state will not receive guidance from the state’s Department of Health this year.

Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "COVID tests are easy to use as well as highly accurate. If you test positive, speak with a health care provider about treatment, which can prevent hospitalization and death."

While the state is not issuing its own guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still touts strategies to help mitigate the risk of a COVID-19 spike, which Cruz said are being highlighted in her schools.  

“COVID, I think at this time, we need to treat like a flu or another illness,” Cruz said. “You know, if you’re sick, stay home. Remind people of sneezing protocols, use a tissue.”  

Cruz says while her district is not actively tracking cases of COVID-19, it is prepared to communicate with county health leaders to address any widespread illness. The focus, though, will shift to what she believes is a more pressing issue.

“Working with our counties and our mental health providers to ensure our children’s needs, our staff’s needs and our families needs are met,” Cruz said.

According to NYSDOH data, hospital admissions increased by about 22% to kick off the month of August from the final week of July. There are more than 100 admissions per day. And reported cases were 55% higher during that same period, with an average of 824 cases being reported every day.

Most cases are not reported, so hospitalizations are a more reliable indicator of what that state of COVID is in New York.