Mayor Won't Close NYC Schools As Coronavirus Cases Number 154

NEW YORK CITY – Public schools will stay open but start to "social distance" students as the number of coronavirus cases in New York City rose steeply to 154 Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The positive diagnoses rose from 95 Friday morning.

The mayor described social distancing measures including having students eat lunches in their classrooms to cut down on interactions and having gym classes outdoors.

To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.

The mayor has been under increasing pressure to close the city's schools, with the City Council's speaker and the head of the city teachers union both calling on them to be shut down.

But George Gresham, the president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents caregivers, said canceling school would cause major hardships for its members — and damage the fight to control the coronavirus' spread.

“While calls to close New York City’s public schools are being received, we urge Mayor de Blasio to recognize the plight of the healthcare workers, transit workers, and other essential workers who are unable to take time off," he said.

"These hardworking women and men rely on our public schools to not only educate their children, but to provide a safe environment for them while their parents work.

“Closing New York City’s public schools with no care plan for these children would place a dire strain on our social infrastructure by reducing the healthcare workforce, and possibly halting the gains being made to help curb the spread of COVID-19. This would undoubtedly pose an even greater danger to New York’s families.

"If school closure becomes our only option, it should be accompanied by a clear plan to ensure that the children of our essential healthcare workers are kept safe while their parents are at work delivering critical care to their patients."