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COVID-19: BACK TO SCHOOL?

August 7, 2020
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Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that based on each region's infection rate, schools across the state are permitted to open this fall.

Governor Cuomo: "By our infection rates, all school districts can open everywhere in the state. Every region is below the threshold that we established which is just great news. Let me say it this way: You look at our infection rate; we are probably in the best situation in the country right now - as incredible as that is. If anyone can open schools, we can open schools. That's true for every region in the state. Period."

Every region's infection rate is below the threshold necessary by the State's standards to open schools. The Department of Health will review submitted reopening plans from school districts and notify districts of their status on Monday. Out of 749 school districts across the state, 127 have not yet submitted plans to the Department of Health, and another 50 are incomplete or deficient.  The determination of how individual districts reopen - in-person vs a hybrid model - will be made by local school districts under strict Department of Health guidelines. The Department of Health's guidance is available here.

Cuomo had this to day, "Every school district has submitted plans to the Department of Health and State Education Department. The State Education Department as you know is a separate department; it's run by the Board of Regents. The Department of Health can disapprove plans if they're responsible from a health point of view. There are 749 districts that have to submit plans. Of those 749, 127 districts have not submitted plans to the Department of Health, and 50 of those, an additional 50 are either incomplete on their face or deficient. The Department of Health is going to continue going through the plans over the weekend and on Monday is going to notify those school districts where it's incomplete or deficient."

Cuomo also said they are going to watch the infection rate between now and the day that schools open. If there is a spike in the infection rate, if there's a matter of concern in the infection rate, then they will revisit it. But for planning purposes, schools can reopen.

Remote Learning

The Governor also announced that school districts must post their remote learning plan online as well as their plan for testing and tracing students and teachers. Schools must also have three to five public meetings prior to August 21 with parents - who will be allowed to participate remotely - as well as one meeting with teachers to go through their reopening plan. 

School Districts must have 3-5 public meetings with parents prior to August 21.

COVID-19 Cases

The Governor also updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.

 

More Info...

  • Today is day 160. New York did 70,000 tests on Thursday, 8/6 and we are at 1 percent.
  • Five New Yorkers passed. 
  • 579 were hospitalized.
  • One hundred and thirty-nine were in ICU and 66 intubated.

Cuomo said, "Our numbers are great because we're doing what we need to do. The quarantine procedures are all in place and we're enforcing compliance."