CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The head of the Chicago Public Schools system does not expect to have to shutdown the entire school system in the coming weeks with the expected rise in COVID cases.
“I want to be clear, our plans are to have our schools open on Jan. 3, our plans are to welcome our children for in-person instruction,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said at a City Hall news conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady. “But I need your help. I need the help of our families. We’ve been trying to make sure we ensure as much as we can that we can have a safe opening back after break.”
When asked if CPS would switch to remote learning for two weeks following winter break like some suburban schools are doing, Martinez said classrooms may have to go to remote learning or individual schools may have to, but he he doesn’t see shutting down the entire district "as a viable option.”
"We have no evidence that shutting down schools, whole systems, has done anything to counter the spread of the virus," Martinez said.
Meanwhile, there will be testing during the holiday period. He said 150,000 tests have been given to children in the most vulnerable neighborhoods. They’re to take them Dec. 28 and drop them off that day at FedEx or Walgreen’s locations.
"By having the results dropped off on Tuesday, we can get the results by Friday and we can also get that information, so we can be ready to ensure that any children who is testing positive doesn’t come to school on Monday, on the 3rd," Martinez said.
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Martinez says 10,000 tests a week should be available by the third week in January to give to students who are quarantining at home, so they’ll be able to return to school sooner.
"We’re going to be getting, by the third week in January a weekly supply of 10,000 tests that we will supply to any child that is in quarantine, so they can take that test and when we get the negative results, we’ll be able to bring them back earlier," Martinez said.
The district has also urged its students and parents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and for those eligible to receive their boosters. Those shots remain the best protection against the virus, with boosters in particular offering protection against Omicron. Martinez said shots would bring “stability in our classrooms. Short of that, we’re going to have to take more conservative approaches.”
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