“Your Kids Are Safer In School” – NYC Reopens Schools As Thousands Of Districts Remain Closed During Omicron Surge

Eric Adams, a former cop and Brooklyn borough president who, as of Jan. 1, took over as the mayor of NYC, has pledged – alongside his predecessor, Bill de Blasio – to keep students safe and schools open.

Former NYC schools chancellor Meisha Porter and incoming Schools Chancellor David Banks pledged last week that Adams’ team would pursue a multi-pronged approach for safely returning to school in-person this January following winter break. While the city’s Department of Education has encouraged all faculty and students to get vaccinated, they stopped short of making it a requirement (presumably for fear that it would prevent faculty from returning to work).

What’s more, the city is adding city-run testing sites this week, while the DOE will double the in-school surveillance testing programs and deploy millions of at-home rapid tests to allow students to continue learning in school.

In a statement released late last week, de Blasio, Adams and Porter all shared statements about the city’s plans for keeping schools open, come hell or high water.

• “Schools are among the safest places to be throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re working closely with the incoming administration to keep it that way,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “By doubling COVID-19 testing in schools, getting our students vaccinated, and sending students, teachers and staff home with at-home test kits, we can keep everyone healthy and finish out this school year strong.”
• “The numbers speak for themselves – your kids are safer in school,” said Mayor-Elect Eric Adams. “Thanks to testing, vaccinations, and at-home testing kits we’ll keep it that way. We’re working closely with the de Blasio Administration and we’ll be ready to bring students and staff back to the classroom on January 3rd.  This is how we move our city forward.”
• “The safety of our students, staff members, and communities is our top priority,” said Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. “Thanks to our multi-layered, gold standard approach to health and safety, New York City’s schools continue to be some of the safest places to be during this pandemic. These new measures in school testing build on our high standards for safety, protects our communities, and allows for students to continue receiving an excellent education in-person.”

Meanwhile, Adams told Bloomberg TV on Monday that public sector employees are required to be fully vaccinated. A vaccine mandate for private sector workers went into place on Dec. 27, with employees required to get their second dose within 45 days or they won’t be allowed to enter their workplaces, – READ MORE