New York Mayor Requests Weekly COVID-19 Testing Of School Staff And Students

New York City public school students and staff will be tested for COVID-19 every week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on September 20. It is reported by New York Post.

“Now let's move on to the weekly tests. We will be testing in elementary, middle and high schools every week, ”de Blasio said in a daily press briefing. This will allow more children to stay safely in classrooms, the mayor said.

According to him, the new policy will take effect on September 27. Also by the new order of the Governor, children from 2's must wear masks indoors.

On September 19, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew called on the mayor and chancellor of schools to replace the current testing frequency. He asked for testing every week. Previously, 10% of public school staff and New York City students were tested for the virus every two weeks.

“Although public schools have successfully opened, I am concerned about the decline in COVID testing this year. Thousands of children will spend their days in classrooms without early warning systems, ”he wrote in a letter.

The mayor believes schools were the safest place in New York City last year thanks to the frequent testing system.

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The City Hall almost immediately agreed to the UFT proposal. Recall that in the first 2 days of study in New York schools, 60 classes were closed due to infections among children.

The mayor said that starting September 27, the city will ease the quarantine for public school students. Until that day, city officials must vaccinate Department of Education staff and childcare workers.

“We will change our approach to quarantine and bring it in line with CDC guidelines,” explained de Blasio. "If the test is positive in the classroom, unvaccinated students will not be quarantined if they wear masks and are 1 meter away."