NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday finally revealed New York City's safety plans for schools, days before all city schoolchildren are expected to return to in-person learning.
During a morning press conference, the mayor reiterated that there will not be a remote learning option for schools this year, and all New York City public school students are scheduled to return to their classrooms on Monday, Sept. 13.
"Think about what families have been through – think about the pain, think about the disruption – but particularly, think about a child who has not seen the inside of a classroom in a year and a half," de Blasio said. "That's not supposed to happen. We can't let that happen anymore. That takes away from every single child."
As the city prepares to welcome students back to the classrooms, however, there will be some new safety measures in place.
According to Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter, all unvaccinated students and staff members will be subjected to COVID-19 testing again. Though, the testing program in schools will be somewhat smaller than last year.
Web Extra: Read the Department of Education's COVID safety guide
"This year, every single school will have 10% of their school population tested twice a month," Porter said. "The information from those tests and all other reports of positive COVID-19 tests will be called into the situation room, which will continue to perform contact tracing and provide health and safety guidance to school leaders, in a timely and efficient manner."
Anyone who is unvaccinated and who tests positive for the virus, and any unvaccinated individual who is exposed to the virus, will be required to quarantine for at least 10 days. If an elementary school student tests positive for the virus, that student's entire classroom will be required to quarantine.
In the event of exposure, fully vaccinated individuals will not have to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic, according to Porter.
They will be encouraged to take a COVID-19 test three to five days after, as a precaution.
"Unvaccinated middle and high school students may test back into their classrooms, out of quarantine, after the seventh day, if they provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test," Porter said.
Mayor de Blasio stressed that he and school officials want to make sure students can stay in the classroom all year long.
"Anyone who is vaccinated, who is not symptomatic, adult or child, even if there has been contact, they are going to stay in school," he said.
Unlike last year, entire school buildings will only close if there is evidence of widespread, in-school COVID-19 transmission.
Remote learning will be available to all students while they are quarantining, Porter added. Accommodations will also be made for students who are immunocompromised or have other medical necessities.
Mayor de Blasio and all school officials are encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated before they return to the classrooms, as all children over the age of 12 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. All school staff members are already required to get vaccinated by Sept. 27.
While in schools, all students, faculty and staff will be required to wear a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Students who are not able to wear a mask will be provided with alternative accommodations.
Students will be sat at least 3-feet apart within classrooms to reduce transmission risk and every classroom will be provided two air purifiers.
