New York City public school students can now remain in class even if they were in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid, provided that they test negative for the virus.
“Every child who tests negative comes back to school,” de Blasio said, calling the new approach “stay safe and stay open.”
Beginning January 3rd, when a public school student tests positive for Covid-19, each child in their class will be given two at-home testing kits to use over the next week. If a child tests negative and does not exhibit any symptoms of the virus, they will be able to return to school, de Blasio said.
Students or their parents can tell school staff that they tested negative and do not need to provide proof.
The mayor noted that 98% of close contacts of public school students who test positive do not end contracting it as well, and in-school close contacts of a Covid-positive child have less than 1% chance of becoming sick themselves, according to the NYC Health Department.
“The jury has come back, we have a lot of evidence now, it’s told us this is the approach that’s going to work for the future,” the mayor said.
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7 Responses
Yes, dear Mayor, the jury has come back. Only they came back more than six months ago, as many frum schools have proven since Pesach-time last year — as we know, yeshivos and girls’ schools in Brooklyn, Monroe, Monsey, Lakewood, LA, et al have been following even more lenient protocols than these, and have not seen children getting sick or infecting others in any significant or dangerous way. B”H reality is finally creeping in…
Only took 2 years for a bit of common sense.
This idiotic (hopefully post-) mayor has finally confirmed that less than 1% of kids actuall yget sick of the virus..
Yet his mandate is, “all kids need to vaccinate.” No science, no reason, no brains…. just vax vax vax… like a demented drunkard who knows only this ONE propaganda.
This idiotic (hopefully post-) mayor has finally confirmed that less than 1% of kids actually get sick of the virus..
Yet his mandate is, “all kids need to vaccinate.” No science, no reason, no brains…. just vax vax vax… like a demented drunkard who knows only this ONE propaganda.
Frumwhere, virus has circulated in those communities to the degree that everyone is “naturally immuned” several times over by multiple variants (at least 3 that went over whole country – Wuhan, Delta, Omicron and possibly others that occurred locally there). Numerous Talmidei Chachamim and stam yidden passed away .. this is not to be proud of. From current science, it seems that the virus continues circulating even after natural or vaccine immunity in places where there are no mitigation measures in place. A number of outbreaks in my community were caused by people coming from the places you mentioned.
Why is this only being provided to public school kids?
Yeshiva kids should also be provided with at home testing kits.
If the goal is to prevent spread, everywhere matters.
> Why is this only being provided to public school kids?
You are right. Demand that. In my state, distribution is by the state to communities with some preferences to poor communities. I did not hear about school preferences.
Under Trump’s COVID relief, there were a lot of funds and programs directed at private and religious schools same as public: for school upgrades, free meals, etc. My impression is that it was reduced under 2021 bill.