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COVID-19: NYC Schools Close Again

November 18, 2020
schools

Remote Learning for All Students Starts  

New York City public schools will shut down temporarily starting Thursday because of surging coronavirus cases, schools Chancellor Richard Carranza told principals in an email Wednesday afternoon.

school closign
This is the email from Carranza to principals, as shared on Twitter this afternoon.

Carranza said the closure would be “temporary” but did not signal when schools would reopen.

The percentage of new COVID-19 cases has hovered near the 3% weekly average threshold the city uses to close schools for more than a week now, forcing parents to wait with bated breath for days for any indication that would force them into having to adjust their childcare arrangements to the new reality.

closing schools

Threshold for Closing School Buildings

School buildings close when New York City meets the following criteria:

  • The percent of positive tests in New York City is equal to or greater than 3% using a 7-day rolling average. When NYC crosses that threshold, school buildings will close, and all students will transition to full-time remote learning for a minimum of two weeks.

As of November 19, 2020, all school buildings are closed until further notice, and all students are learning remotely 5 days a week. Find important information about remote learning devices, tech support, and tips for learning on our Blended Learning page.

It’s important we come together as a city and support one another as neighbors and New Yorkers during this time. COVID-19 is not more likely found in any one race or nationality, and we must each model inclusion and actively work to combat bias in our workplaces and communities.

Important Precautions

It is critical that all New Yorkers continue to practice general viral infection prevention measures including:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water often.
  • Wear a face covering, indoors and outdoors.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
  • Keep six feet of physical distance between yourself and others.
  • Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
  • Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms. 
  • Get your flu shot .
  • Reduce overcrowding by walking or biking to work, if possible.
  • If the train is too packed, wait for the next one. 

If You Feel Sick

  • Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat.
  • If you do not feel better in 24-48 hours, contact your doctor.
  • Do not go to school or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
  • If you need help getting medical care, call 311.
Assemblymember Robert J. Rodriguez for #RepresentNYC and School District 4 Superintendent Dr. Kristy De La Cruz discuss #schools during the #COVID19 pandemic.