New York City public school students who learn alongside COVID-19-positve classmates can stay in school if they test negative for the virus using …
New York City public school students who learn alongside COVID-19-positve classmates can stay in school if they test negative for the virus using scaled-up at-home testing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. “Every child who tests negative comes back to school,” de Blasio said during a virtual press briefing, dubbing the approach “stay safe and stay open.” When a public school student tests positive for COVID-19, beginning Jan.3 all children in their class will be given two at-home testing kits to use for seven days, he said. Each child who is negative and does not demonstrate virus symptoms can return to school, the mayor explained. “This guarantees more consistency in their education, it guarantees fewer disruptions,” said de Blasio. “The jury has come back, we have a lot of evidence now, it’s told us this is the approach that’s going to work for the future.” De Blasio claimed that 98 percent of close contacts of public school students who test positive for the virus do not end up contracting it as well. Under the new policy, students are permitted to attend classes in person if they or their parents say that they have tested negative via at-home test, but don’t need to provide proof of negative test results, said Dr. Dave Chokshi, the city’s health commissioner. The announcement comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday reduced its recommended quarantine period from 10 days to five for those who no longer have symptoms.
