New York opens restaurant halls and high schools: when and on what terms

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York City will reopen dining halls starting February 12, provided they are used at 25% capacity. This is two days earlier than previously announced - officials decided to surprise the townspeople on Valentine's Day, writes New York Post.

“Valentine's Day is a big day for restaurants, so we will open 25% capacity restaurants in New York on the Friday before Valentine's Day,” Cuomo said.

Dining rooms have been closed since mid-December due to COVID-19, and guests were offered delivery, take-out or outdoor dining, which is not very pleasant considering the weather in New York.

Opening of secondary schools

The Department of Education (DOE) will reopen New York City high school buildings from February 25, writes New York Post.

The move will allow 60 urban schoolchildren to return to classes on a full or part-time basis.

“I am so pleased that today we can announce the return of students to high school,” said the head of the school district Richard Carranza. “Our teachers have done an incredible job supporting student learning remotely. But, as we said from the very beginning, nothing can replace face-to-face training and support. "

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Both Carranza and City Mayor Bill de Blasio stressed that school reopening has become a clear necessity due to growing evidence of the damage done to schoolchildren by isolation and lack of live communication.

Officials said they will expand teacher testing capabilities to make it easier for schools to reopen.

At the same time, the union of teachers (UFT) said it will carefully examine the city's ability to provide adequate protection measures against COVID-19.

“UFT will ensure that testing regime, availability of personal protective equipment and social distancing requirements are strictly adhered to,” said union spokesman Dick Riley.

On December 7, the mayor's office resumed face-to-face classes for 3-k, pre-k and K-5 students, as well as part of students with special needs, after all schools were closed for several weeks due to rising rates of COVID-19. But secondary schools remain closed to this day.

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According to the Department of Education, about 60 of the city's 000 secondary school students have enrolled in full-time education. Officials said there are 196 high schools in the DOE system, and about half of them will be full-time open from Feb.000.

De Blasio noted that the city may consider giving parents another opportunity to choose the format of their classes: online or in person.