NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Friday called on public schools across New York City to be temporarily closed amid rising coronavirus cases.
“It’s time to close our public schools,” Johnson tweeted Friday morning. “This isn’t an easy decision, but we must take aggressive measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
“Teaching and learning cannot take place under these circumstances for the safety and wellbeing of the teachers and students,” he continued.
Speaking on 1010 WINS Friday morning, Johnson said the city could close the schools for two weeks and then see where things stand at the end of those two weeks, possibly closing for a third week after that if necessary.
“I think that life is going to have to change for some period of time to better control this outbreak,” Johnson said. “This is no longer business as usual. It’s not time to panic, but it is time to act.”
Johnson said he hasn’t spoken yet with Mayor Bill de Blasio about the idea.
“I know he feels at this point it needs to be a measure of last resort,” Johnson said.
He said he came to the belief after looking at what other cities, states and countries around the world have been doing.
"I've been talking to health care experts both here and in New York City," Johnson said. "They said this is not an easy decision at all, but in the middle of this uncharted territory that we're in ... we need to take certain measures."
Although several public schools have closed—including two on Staten Island Friday after a student tested positive—the school system has remained open.
On Friday, officials announced Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest, and San Diego schools will close over coronavirus threat.
At least 95 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the city, with 320 confirmed cases in the state.