New York schools close over surge of Covid cases leaving 60,000 children without devices for remote learning

New York City, which holds the largest pubic school system in the the United States, will close its schools starting on Thursday amid a surge in coronavirus cases. 

The city hit the 3 per cent threshold for daily new Covid-19 cases over a seven-day rolling average, which impacted local officials decision to shutter the schools. 

All students will now switch to remote learning beginning on Thursday, it was announced. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio was scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning where it was anticipated this decision could be announced. But the press conference was delayed for hours, as sources said Mr de Blasio was working for a solution outside of closing the schools. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the mayor could change the threshold for when the city would have to close schools, but changing that threshold would likely face backlash from the United Federation of Teachers, the union that represents most educators in the city.

“That 3 per cent, the mayor set, in my opinion, in a collaborative with the parents. And that was the agreement and the agreement should be honoured," Mr Cuomo added during his Wednesday press briefing, which turned testy between himself and reporters. 

The decision comes as a major blow to the metropolitan city during its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. About 300,000 students and their families will be impacted with the closure of the schools. 

“We must fight back the second wave of Covid-19,” Mr de Blasio wrote in a tweet.

Chancellor Richard A Carranza of New York City Public Schools said in a statement that the school system will only “temporarily” be closed amid the surge in cases, but gave no indication as to when students might be able to return. 

“The Mayor and I have been clear-eyed since the beginning that we needed to get students back into classrooms as soon as it was safe,” he said. “And we carry that same urgency with us today as we announce this temporary closure: we will get students back in buildings as soon as we can, safely.” 

Mr Carranza added that the school system would work with families to provide free meals, remote learning tips, and device support during this time. 

An estimated 60,000 children in the schooling system do not have access to devices to engage in remote learning, according to NBC News New York. The schools were preparing “paper packets” for the children impacted until they could provide them with devices. 

“New Yorkers have proven they are ready and willing to do the work to fight against this virus. And we need to ask that of you again, because that’s how we get schools back open: with the support of each and every one of you. We will get through this, together,” Mr Carranza said. 

New York state’s current daily coronavirus positivity rate is at 4.73 per cent statewide, causing concern among leaders and public health officials. 

The state was not alone in experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, as the vast majority of the country was reporting increases in daily cases and hospitalisations. But the state, especially New York City, has been hit one of the hardest financially due to the number of businesses that have shuttered amid the pandemic. 

Public health officials implored residents to avoid gatherings for Thanksgiving and the other upcoming holidays amid the surge in cases in an effort to drop the positivity rate and reopen schools.