Last night, a news agency released a report regarding CUNY and SUNY students, studying abroad, being brought back to the United States and landing at Stewart International Airport. The report also indicated the students, requiring quarantine for COVID-19, would be sent to the Cornwall Campus of Montefiore SLCH.
Katherine Dabroski, Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations for Motefiore SLCH confirmed the rumors are false and there are no plans to quarantine students.
Kurt Hahn, director of emergency management, said he spoke to the Orange County emergency manager and there are no plans for the students to land at Stewart. Hahn said certain protocols must be followed when handling patients infected with COVID-19. He indicated Stewart is not set up to handle such patients, but JFK International Airport is. Hahn said the governor did discuss the possibility of landing a plane at Stewart.
On Monday, legislation was passed which allows Governor Andrew Cuomo the power to issue any directive necessary to respond to a state emergency. Funds in the amount of $40 million were appropriated to respond to the virus outbreak.
Michael Albright, communications officer for SUNY Orange, confirmed no local students are studying overseas.
