As the new school year approaches—though debate still lingers over the start date—the NYC DOE is implementing new safety procedures.
On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed during his press briefing that all public school buildings will have a nurse onsite when the 2020–2021 term begins.
“Before anything else this fall, we are prioritizing health and safety, and this is an absolutely critical component of providing a safe place for our young people to learn during this pandemic,” Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said, echoing the mayor's sentiment. “Thank you to the staff and parents who advocated for more nursing supports in schools. Your voices helped make this expansion possible.”
NYC Schools revealed that it will work in a partnership with the NYC Health System to source new nurses who will work in tandem with the NYC Test + Trace Corps team.
Having a nurse in every building will provide @NYCschools with a medical professional who can respond when a student or staff member presents with symptoms at school. This is a critical component of providing a safe place for our young people to learn during this pandemic.
— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) August 13, 2020
We are sourcing new nurses in partnership, not competition, with @NYCHealthSystem and its agency partners. They will work in close partnership with the NYC Test + Trace Corps team assigned to @NYCschools to quickly stop the spread of COVID-19. Learn more: https://t.co/H8Xmyio8E1
— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) August 13, 2020
So what else can students and parents expect? Along with guidance from the CDC and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Schools will have testing and tracing procedures in place at all of its buildings. In the event someone becomes ill during the day, there will be an isolation room. Cleanings with electrostatic sprayers will take place on a nightly basis. Additionally, an order has been placed for 11,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 100,000 cases of disinfectant wipes.
Visit the NYC DOE online for more information. Check out our breakdown of the 2020-2021 term to see what this new reality will look like for NYC students.
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