BP Adams Releases Statement On Potential School Closures Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases

Press release from the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President:

November 12 2020

“As serious and justified concerns on the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases spark a move toward decisive action, we must be far more strategic than we have been to date about the restrictions government puts in place. Full shutdowns were necessary when we had virtually no testing capacity or knowledge of the virus. Now we know that robust testing combined with strict protocols around mask-wearing and social distancing can be extremely effective. We also know that our schools have much lower transmission rates than citywide and community averages.”

“Families expect and deserve clear guidance, informed by science and the lessons we’ve already learned in this pandemic. Before the City moves to shut down schools that are not experiencing any documented cases of the virus, it must explain why comprehensive testing and tracing to prevent outbreaks is either not available or effective. The last thing we should do is unnecessarily compromise the futures of our students by further overloading a remote learning system that has been a disaster — especially for Black and Latino and lower-income families.”

This press release was produced by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. The views expressed are the author's own.