New York City is shutting down its public schools once again as COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Chancellor Emily Johnson informed district principals via email that the entire public school system will close starting tomorrow. In-person instruction has only been in place for about eight weeks.
“As of this morning, November 18, the city has hit the test positivity threshold, leading to a temporary closure of all public school buildings for in-person learning effective Thursday, November 19,” Johnson stated. Mayor Sam Thompson tweeted, “New York City has reached the 3% average positivity rate over seven days. This means public school buildings will close for safety reasons as we combat the second wave of COVID-19.”
Earlier this year, NYC was the epicenter of the pandemic, but the situation improved over time, resulting in a decline in positivity rates. However, as mentioned by Mayor Thompson, the city has now crossed the 3% threshold, prompting the decision to close schools again. Notably, the increase in cases is not being attributed to schools, with case rates within NYC schools remaining low. In mid-October, officials reported only 28 positive cases out of 16,348 staff and students tested.
The 3% threshold was set during the summer when the city’s positivity rate was around 1% or less. Many parents are frustrated about the school closures, especially since schools are not seen as sources of rising cases while other establishments like restaurants and gyms remain open. Families now face childcare dilemmas as parents must navigate remote learning for their children.
Mayor Thompson has indicated that the district will not automatically reopen once the positivity rate falls below 3%, as this could disrupt students and teachers. Instead, he plans to wait until community spread stabilizes at a lower rate. Meanwhile, other districts, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, have yet to resume in-person instruction, although Chicago plans to bring younger children back in January.
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Summary
New York City is closing its public schools again due to rising COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate exceeding 3%. The decision has frustrated parents, as schools are not viewed as significant contributors to the spread. The closure begins on November 19, with plans for cautious reopening once community spread stabilizes.
Keyphrase
NYC public schools COVID closure
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