CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Public Schools CEO and the Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner are attempting to give parents, teachers, students, and staff some peace of mind regarding COVID-19 protocols.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and CPE CEO Pedro Martinez addressed the press at City Hall, saying the Chicago Department of Public Health and CPS are working together; and Martinez promised more transparency.
Dr. Arwady said the COVID numbers in the schools - five in 1,000 people - are expected.
“We’re seeing about five in a thousand people in that CPS ecosystem being diagnosed with COVID. That is not an unexpected number. It is well in line with what we are seeing in other school districts, and it is not significantly out of line with what we are seeing at the community rate, despite there being quite a bit more testing,” Dr. Allison Arwady said Thursday at a news conference.
"But in the context of hearing that there have been about 1,500 cases then diagnosed across CPS schools since the beginning of the school year, I want to remind you that CPS is the size of a not so small city."
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said "absolutely" there's room for improvement, but he insist the schools are safe.
"There's nothing more important that parents need to hear that the data that Dr. Arwady is seeing says a consistent message: the schools are safe. Are there things to improve on? Absolutely. Absolutely, and we will own that," CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said. "I know our staff are very nervous. Our parents are very nervous. I feel it. I get it. As a father, as a CEO, I will not allow out children not to be in the same space, our staff not to be in the same space. But overall collectively. What we're saying is that the schools are safe."
CPS hs a new COVID-19 dashboard. Martinez said CPS is doubling the number of contact tracers and opt-in testing will be expanded to all schools by the end of this week. He said there needs to be more participation.
He also said he is considering expanding virtual education, but he said students didn't do well last year and it can't be virtual babysitting.
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