NY Summer School To Be Remote As Child Coronavirus Illnesses Rise

NEW YORK, NY — Summer school in New York will be conducted through distance learning and state officials will issue more guidelines to schools and colleges next month about how to prepare for the fall. Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement at his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday.

His remarks come after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled reopening guidelines for schools this week. Cuomo said it's too early to say whether schools will be allowed to reopen buildings in the fall. School reopening plans outlining safety precautions and measures for students must be submitted to the state for approval in July.

When it comes to day camps, Cuomo's staff said they're revisiting previous guidelines in light of new information about how the virus affects children.

The number of cases of a coronavirus-related illness in children increased to 157 in the state. Cuomo said the inflammatory syndrome is "more frightening" in some ways than the respiratory illness because it inflames the heart.

In contrast, the number of coronavirus hospitalizations, intubations, intensive care admissions, deaths and new cases continued to show a downward trend.

The number of new, daily hospitalizations dipped to 246 Wednesday, the lowest it has been since mid-March. The number of people who died from the COVID-19 disease, meanwhile, dropped to 105. That includes 78 people who were in hospitals and 27 in nursing homes.

The child illnesses, a relatively new wrinkle in the pandemic, have now been reported in 13 countries and 25 states, Cuomo said. That's up from seven and 17, respectively, last week.

Cuomo said he believes the more doctors look for the disease, the more they will find.

"The facts have changed from the 'experts,'" Cuomo said, lamenting that researchers previously said the disease did not appear to affect children.

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Cuomo called the number of small businesses projected to close forever "staggering" and said the state is extending the sales tax filing deadline from May 19 to June 22.

As parts of the state begin phase one of reopening businesses, he encouraged workers to call the New York Coronavirus Hotline if they believe their employer is not following guidelines involving providing personal protective equipment, hygiene and social distancing. That number is 1-888-364-3065.

According to the state Department of Health, Long Island, Mid-Hudson and New York City remain the only regions that have not satisfied the state's seven metrics to begin reopening.

Cuomo also warned prospective beachgoers to plan accordingly this weekend. Beaches will be at 50 percent capacity and social distancing will be enforced. Beaches will likely reach capacity by 10 a.m., he said.

"Those parking lots will reach capacity very quickly," Cuomo said. "Take that into consideration when making your plans."

Additionally, Cuomo announced that Rockland County in the Hudson Valley joined much of the rest of the state in resuming elective surgery and ambulatory care. New York City and parts of western New York remain closed for those services.