Glen Cove, New York – Nurse pods at three Glen Cove elementary schools are up and running and doing exactly what they were intended to do – protecting students and teachers and helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.The newly constructed structures were created with funding secured by Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) at the height of the COVID outbreak. Inside each pod, are isolation spaces so that the nurses can monitor people with possible COVID symptoms. To pay for the pods, Lavine awarded a State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant in the amount of $250,000 to the Glen Cove School District. Today, Lavine got a first-hand look at the pod at the Landing Elementary School in Glen Cove. Also on-hand were Glen Cove School District Superintendent Dr. Maria Rianna, Landing Elementary School Principal Alexa Doeschner, and several students. Awarding the grant is an example of how Lavine continues to make protecting the health and safety of the entire community a top priority.

“We must remain vigilant with the recent surge in COVID cases due to the delta variant. That means following federal and state guidelines with regards to mask use, maintaining social distancing protocols and taking advantage of the free and readily available vaccine as it’s the best way to fight this virus,” Lavine said.