NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Brooklyn and Queens Catholic schools will return to in-person learning next month with mask requirements, vaccination encouragement and more.
In a statement released Thursday, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced all Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in the two boroughs will require all students, faculty, and staff members to wear masks inside the buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
The policy was created based on guidance from the New York State Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
While schools will not mandate vaccines for anyone, officials are strongly encouraging vaccinations – along with social distancing, hand washing and hand hygiene.
“As the numbers of Coronavirus cases continue to spike in children, and the overall numbers of hospitalizations in New York City are on the rise, this is the most responsible approach to take when we begin the new school year. I know the return to these safety measures is not the situation parents, teachers or students were hoping to be the case in the 2021-2022 school year, but we cannot ignore the trends,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas Chadzutko. “Let us do our part from day one to prevent further increase of cases. If we are successful, as this academic year moves along, we will revisit these guidelines and adjust them accordingly. As much as we want a return to normalcy in our classrooms, we want our students, faculty, and staff to be safe.”
Brooklyn and Queens Catholic schools will continue to follow city and state guidelines regarding contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols. There will also be regular cleaning and sanitizing of facilities and enhanced ventilation in schools.
“Parents will be reminded to keep their child home from school if they are sick, and their child will be required to receive medical clearance from a healthcare provider that they can safely return to in-person instruction,” the diocese wrote in a press release.
“Looking at the trajectory of past pandemics, it seems that a virus such as this one does linger for some time even with the vaccination. I have received my vaccination and continue to encourage others to do so as well.
It is our hope that the COVID-19 vaccines will help bring an end to this terrible virus that has controlled our lives for much of the past year and a half,” said Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
According to the diocese, enrollment in Catholic schools increased by 40% amid the pandemic.