NYC Schools Won't Reopen Unless Coronavirus Rate Below 3 Percent

NEW YORK CITY — Whether New York City schools' doors are open or closed will depend on the city being below a 3 percent coronavirus infection rate, the mayor said Friday.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and city officials outlined that citywide school open-or-closed threshold, in addition to a spate of strict safety standards for schools.

Just two positive coronavirus cases in an individual school will be enough to shut it down, officials said.

"The essence of this plan is safety for everyone," de Blasio said.

The return of schools depends on state approval anticipated to come next week. The city's plan includes a stricter threshold for reopening than the state's 5 percent positive rate standard.

Schools citywide will close if New York City's coronavirus infection rate stays at or above 3 percent on a seven-day rolling average. The city's current rate is 1 percent, de Blasio said.

"The obvious Plan B is everybody goes to remote learning," he said, promising child care plans will be in place if that happens.

Schools will be open under "blended learning," meaning a mix of classroom and remote learning days, de Blasio said.

Within schools, students' movement will be limited, said Chancellor Richard Carranza. They will largely stay within one classroom for an entire day as a measure to prevent the coronavirus' spread, he said.

Ted Long, who leads the city's Test and Trace program, said a single positive case within a school — whether student or staff — will start an investigation into contacts.

One case will lead to that classroom's closure and its shift to remote learning, Long said.

Two or more cases school-wide will result in a full school closure and move to remote learning.

Classrooms and schools, if they're closed, will be closed for at least two weeks, officials said. All students and teachers in an infected classroom will also be required to self-quarantine for two weeks.

The public will be told of outbreaks once they're confirmed, de Blasio said.

"We do intend to be very transparent with what we learn school-by-school," he said.

Carranza said staff and families will be able to take coronavirus tests with 24-hour turnaround times at 34 locations citywide.

The plan also requires any student, teacher or staff member to stay home if they feel sick. If a student shows symptoms in a school, they'll be sent to an isolation room with a staff member until their parent can pick them up, officials said.

All students and staff must maintain physical distancing and wear face coverings, which will be provided for free along with other personal protective equipment.

Any family that doesn't feel safe returning into buildings can do remote learning, no questions asked, de Blasio said.

Carranza said the schools won't settle for anything less than the strictest standards.

"We have your back and that will never change," he said.