Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had announced new, data-driven guidance for reopening schools in New York State. Schools in a region may reopen if that region is in Phase IV and if its daily infection rate remains below 5 percent or lower, using a 14-day average since unPAUSE was lifted. Schools will close if the regional infection rate rises above 9 percent, using a 7-day average, after August 1. New York State will make the formula determination during the week of Aug. 1-7.
New York State, the Reimagine Education Advisory Council and the Department of Health released finalized guidance and guiding principles for reopening schools, which are available here. The DOH and Governor’s Reimagine Council are working closely with the Department of Education as it releases education guidance. Plans to reopen schools are due on July 31.
Topics addressed by state guidance include:
- Masks/PPE
- Social Distancing
- Cohort Structures
- Restructuring Space to Maximize In-Class Instruction
- Transportation
- Food Service
- Aftercare and Extracurriculars
- Screening
- Tracing
- Cleaning and Disinfecting
“Everybody wants to reopen schools, but you only reopen if it’s safe to reopen, and that’s determined by the data. You don’t hold your finger up and feel the wind, you don’t have an inspiration, you don’t have a dream, you don’t have an emotion–look at the data,” Cuomo said.
“We test more and we have more data than any state. If you have the virus under control, reopen. If you don’t have the virus under control, then you can’t reopen. We’re not going to use our children as the litmus test and we’re not going to going to put our children in a place where their health is endangered. It’s that simple. Common sense and intelligence can still determine what we do, even in this crazy environment. We’re not going to use our children as guinea pigs. What I say to the experts is very simple. I’m making the determination as to whether or not I would send my daughter to school. If it’s safe, I’ll send her. If it’s not safe, I’m not going to send her. And you can determine that by science.”
