NYC Doubles In-School COVID Testing For Kids

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio promised New York City public school parents a new COVID-19 safety protocol with more tests in the New Year, but critics say testing capacity isn't the only problem.

The city has compiled a stock of 2 million at-home coronavirus tests that, starting Jan. 3, will be sent to students who've had contact with the virus in the classroom, de Blasio announced Tuesday.

Asymptomatic students who test negative on the at-home kit can go back to school the next day and will be given a second at-home test within a week, according to officials.

The mayor said in-school testing will also double in the New Year and be available to vaccinated students.

"These test kits are going to help us fight back yet another wave of COVID," de Blasio said. "This guarantees more consistency in their education."

But both the City Council's Education Committee chair and union officials contended Tuesday the amped up testing policy didn't come soon enough or address an underlying problem of parents not giving consent to test their kids in school.

"Respectfully, Mr. Mayor, we told your office that testing was woefully inadequate back at our early September hearing," said City Council Member Mark Treyger. "More testing is good. But they can’t test unless they have consent forms back."

Treyger's concerns were echoed by the MORE caucus of the United Federation of Teachers who called the in-school testing capacity "useless."

De Blasio said Tuesday about 330,000 of New York City's unvaccinated families had opted in to in-school testing so far, a number he expects to ramp up as vaccinated families are extended the option for in-school testing.

The debate over public school COVID testing comes at a critical time as Omicron variant spreads across New York and hospitalization mount among the city's youngest citizens.

De Blasio argued classrooms are the safest place for city kids, noting city officials found less than 1 percent of students exposed in public schools came down with the virus.

Outside of schools, more than 14 percent of people exposed catch COVID-19, Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said.

Chokshi said Tuesday health officials estimate that the highly-infectious omicron will only increase the rate of those who come down with coronavirus after being exposed from 0.83 percent to 2 percent.

"This market reduction in risk makes sense," Chokshi said Tuesday. "It is the result of the layered prevention measures we’ve put in place, like vaccination, testing, ventilation, distancing and kids staying home if they’re feeling ill.”