New York City schools to close again as city fights virus

I'm a little unclear about New York City schools. The other day you said This is the city's decision. They have an agreement of 3% today. You said, Well, I might have to impose an orange zone and I might have to close the schools, which an Orange Zone does. So what's going on? Is the city still have the ability to close its schools? Are you now taking control and saying that you have the power to make this decision? And for the millions of parents who want to know are the school's gonna open tomorrow in New York City? All right, First of all, let's try not to be obnoxious and offensive in your tone because you're 100% wrong. Thes laws have all been in effect for months. I've always said we said initial parameters, and then the school district picked the percent. Within those parameters. New York City pick 3%. We announced the Orange Zone law over a month ago. I don't know if you were here or if you were paying attention, but that has been in effect for over a month. It always said, if by the state's numbers you hit 3% the schools close. What's going on here is nothing that the law hasn't said for over a month. We then had the test out procedures. If you were paying attention, you would have known We closed the schools in New York City two weeks ago. Remember when we did in Orange Zone and a red zone in Brooklyn and Queens and we close the schools? Don't you remember that? Okay, so don't you? So, what are you talking about? How What are you talking about? You're now gonna override. We did it already. That's the law. An orange zone in the red zone. Follow the fax within your confused. Confused. Then I'll tell you what you mean. Confused. Well, they're not confused. You're confused. Read the law. Read the law, and you won't be confused. The schools are open by state law. Mhm tomorrow. That's the question. Uh, his career. Asking that question. Get some noxious at all. Well, I don't really care what you think. Ah, of course you agree with him because you're in the same business with him. The schools by state law. Well, what is the answer to your question? What is the answer? to your question. Yes, you dio When does the state closed the schools? When you get to a norm zone, which you're suggesting could happen, but it's not necessarily happen. So then what are you asking? You just answered your own question the other week. Excuse me, but on one hand you have granted Bill de Blasio kind of oversight of his schools. And there are rumors that the number of New York City will rise above 3% which would trigger closing schools. Now, you have just said that an orange zone could be in the offing for the entirety of New York City, which would also close schools. But your number is 2.5. So I guess just the point blank question is our school is gonna be open tomorrow. Let's do it again for you. It's maybe gets confusing over the days and nights. Ah, school set their own school 700 school district's. They all set their own number. That's the number. Unless they fall into a micro cluster, the micro cluster overrides the local rules. Yellow, orange, red. If it's buffalo, I don't even know the Buffalo closing number for schools. But the Buffalo schools close in that orange zone, right? Why? Because it's an orange zone and it's over 3%. Well, maybe Buffalo had a rule of 4% or 5% or 6%. I don't know. It doesn't matter if it goes over 3% in an orange zone. Because now it's saying the decision isn't just about a school. It's about a school in an intensely infected community, Yeah.

Video above: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responds to questions on schoolsNew York City is shuttering schools to try to stop the renewed spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday in a painful about-face for one of the first big U.S. school systems to bring students back to classrooms this fall.The nation's largest public school system will halt in-person learning Thursday, the mayor and schools chancellor said.The city had said since summer that school buildings would close if 3% of all the coronavirus tests performed citywide over a seven-day period came back positive. As the rate neared that point last week, de Blasio advised parents to prepare for a possible shutdown within days.The mayor said the rate has now passed that mark.The city's more than 1 million public school students will now be taught entirely online, as most already are. As of the end of October, only about 25% of students had gone to class in school this fall, far fewer than officials had expected.In-person school resumed Sept. 21 for pre-kindergarteners and some special education students. Elementary schools opened Sept. 29 and high schools Oct. 1.At the time, the seven-day positive test average rate was under 2%.Even as the school system stayed open, more than 1,000 classrooms went through temporary closures after students or staffers tested positive, and officials began instituting local shutdowns in neighborhoods where coronavirus cases were rising rapidly.New York City's school system, like others across the nation, halted in-person learning in mid-March as the virus spiked.While many big U.S. school districts later decided to start the fall term with online learning, de Blasio pushed for opening schoolhouse doors. The Democrat argued that students needed services they got in school and that many parents were counting on it in order to get back to work.To keep students spread out, the city offered in-person learning only part-time, with youngsters logging on from home the rest of the time.The reopening date, originally set for Sept. 10, was postponed twice as teachers, principals and some parents said safety precautions and staffing were inadequate, with the teachers' union at one point threatening to strike.The city agreed to changes, including hiring thousands more teachers and testing 10% to 20% of all students and staffers per month for the virus.When high schools finally opened their doors, de Blasio hailed it as “an absolutely amazing moment” in the city's recovery.“This is an example of what makes New York City great,” he said at the time. “We did something that other cities around this country could only dream of because we have fought back this pandemic so well for so long.”

NEW YORK —

Video above: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responds to questions on schools

New York City is shuttering schools to try to stop the renewed spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday in a painful about-face for one of the first big U.S. school systems to bring students back to classrooms this fall.

The nation's largest public school system will halt in-person learning Thursday, the mayor and schools chancellor said.

The city had said since summer that school buildings would close if 3% of all the coronavirus tests performed citywide over a seven-day period came back positive. As the rate neared that point last week, de Blasio advised parents to prepare for a possible shutdown within days.

The mayor said the rate has now passed that mark.

The city's more than 1 million public school students will now be taught entirely online, as most already are. As of the end of October, only about 25% of students had gone to class in school this fall, far fewer than officials had expected.

In-person school resumed Sept. 21 for pre-kindergarteners and some special education students. Elementary schools opened Sept. 29 and high schools Oct. 1.

At the time, the seven-day positive test average rate was under 2%.

Even as the school system stayed open, more than 1,000 classrooms went through temporary closures after students or staffers tested positive, and officials began instituting local shutdowns in neighborhoods where coronavirus cases were rising rapidly.

New York City's school system, like others across the nation, halted in-person learning in mid-March as the virus spiked.

While many big U.S. school districts later decided to start the fall term with online learning, de Blasio pushed for opening schoolhouse doors. The Democrat argued that students needed services they got in school and that many parents were counting on it in order to get back to work.

To keep students spread out, the city offered in-person learning only part-time, with youngsters logging on from home the rest of the time.

The reopening date, originally set for Sept. 10, was postponed twice as teachers, principals and some parents said safety precautions and staffing were inadequate, with the teachers' union at one point threatening to strike.

The city agreed to changes, including hiring thousands more teachers and testing 10% to 20% of all students and staffers per month for the virus.

When high schools finally opened their doors, de Blasio hailed it as “an absolutely amazing moment” in the city's recovery.

“This is an example of what makes New York City great,” he said at the time. “We did something that other cities around this country could only dream of because we have fought back this pandemic so well for so long.”

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