All NY schools meet reopening standard: Gov
Kids across New York State, once the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, may be able to return to the classroom this fall. That's according to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who made the announcement on a call on Friday.
He said every region's infection rate is below the threshold necessary by the state's standards of below 5% over a 14-day average to reopen.
ANDREW CUOMO: "If you look at our infection rate we are probably in the best situation in the country right now, as incredible as that is. If anybody can open schools, we can open schools, and that's true for every region in the state."
The rate of COVID-19 tests that came back positive on Thursday was 1% statewide.
Cuomo said school districts will have the flexibility to decide whether to invite students back to the classroom full-time or do partially remote learning, saying there is no "one-size-fits-all."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has set a stricter threshold of a 3% infection rate for schools in the largest school district in the country to open.
Chicago Public Schools, the third largest school district in the U.S. will be holding all classes online to start the school year after the city has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Los Angeles Unified Schools District, the country's second largest, will also be holding classes remotely this fall.
The Trump administration has adamantly pushed for schools to reopen for in-person learning in the fall, but coronavirus outbreaks around the country have thwarted efforts to do so safely.
