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The mayor on closing school buildings due to rising COVID cases in the City

The 7-day rolling average test positivity rate has reached 2.6% citywide as of Thursday 11/12. Public schools will get closed if the 7-day average test positivity rate reaches 3%. The latest numbers of testing in public schools going back to mid September show 107,900 test results from students and staff, 172 detected COVID-19 cases and a 0.16% positivity rate.

Our key takeaways from the latest press briefing by Mayor de Blasio on Thursday 11/12:

  • The administration is preparing for the possibility that public schools will get shut down again and all students switch to fully-remote learning
  • There is still time to avoid building closures if people follow social distancing rules, wear masks and get tested according to the mayor
  • If one morning or during that day the 7-day rolling average hits 3% or higher, the school day would still be completed and the next day all students would be taught remotely
  • School closures would be very limited timewise, not a shut-down like in the spring, building closures might go on for days or weeks
  • Every child will be taught remotely the next day without transition
  • Guidance in this scenario for private schools, private preschools etc will be defined soon
  • The city is having conversations with various stakeholders and health experts to set new standards for school closures considering the low transmission rates in public schools
  • Possible new standards could involve different rules for younger versus older kids for in-person learning

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