Coronavirus Updates
As of March 4, 2020
The health and safety of all of our students continues to be our first priority. In recent days, the DOE has taken the following actions:
· DOE increased deep cleanings in schools to two times per week, disinfecting surface areas.
· DOE has ensured all 1,800 schools have adequate hygiene and cleaning materials.
· DOE is supplying all schools with facemasks to be used if a student exhibits symptoms and requires isolation prior to transport to a doctor and/or testing.
· DOE is strongly encouraging students to take time at start of meal periods for handwashing, especially before meals; monitoring this, and will make changes as needed to assure students have the time.
· DOE issued updated guidance on international travel for school trips, including canceling all DOE-sponsored international trips to the following countries with a level-2 or higher advisory alert from the CDC: China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan.
· DOE, consistent with guidance from the CDC and NYS Education, advised the cancellation of all study abroad programs; this includes where students are scheduled to come from other countries to stay with host families in NYC, and where DOE public school students are hosted abroad.
· We know many parents are worried that absences could affect their child’s admissions process. Today we announced that attendance during 2019-20 SY will NOT impact the current or coming year’s applications to middle or high schools.
Please also visit nyc.gov/coronavirus (Open external link)at any time for critical updates, including ways to fight stigma and bias around this issue. Additionally, the Coronavirus Fact Sheet (plus translations) are available on that page under Additional Resources for 2019 Outbreak.
It’s important we come together as a city and support one another as neighbors and New Yorkers during this time.