NYC Schools Pass 1M Coronavirus Tests

NEW YORK CITY — New York City passed the 1 million mark for coronavirus tests conducted in its public schools.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the milestone Friday on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show."

He linked it to plans to bring 80,000 city workers back into offices starting Monday. COVID-19 positivity in schools is 0.34 percent, he said.

"That's highly pertinent because we're using the same exact strategy to keep city offices safe as we have used successfully in our public schools," he said.

New York City has spent $206 million on coronavirus safety measures ahead of office workers' return to work Monday, officials said.

But, as Lehrer noted, many city employees are still worried about returning to work amid the pandemic, even if COVID-19 rates are dropping. He asked whether city workers could be just as productive from home.

De Blasio said that's not the case.

"We find that people are more productive in the workplace and we are public servants,” he said.

"People need to come back because we have work to do to bring this city back,” he continued.

City workers returning to offices is part of fully reopening New York City on July 1, de Blasio said.

He said the number of vaccinations — which stand at 6.5 million doses so far — has driven the city's positivity level. Schools too will fully return in the fall, he repeated.

"In September we’re going to open schools fully, just no question now based on everything we’re seeing we will be able to have every child back,” he said.