Almost all experts and evidence shows that schools should not be closed as they do not statistically contribute to the spread of the coronavirus.
However, as we know, Hizonner DeBozzo (and his puppet Carrranza) has never used statistics or reason in any of his decisions. Instead, he does what his socialist compass guides him to do.
New York City has reached the 3% testing positivity 7-day average threshold. Unfortunately, this means public school buildings will be closed as of tomorrow, Thursday Nov. 19, out an abundance of caution.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 18, 2020
We must fight back the second wave of COVID-19.
Responses from twitter are all over the board.
One person believes it is people’s faults for eating out that caused this and that people don’t care about Black and Brown kids (clearly not racist):
That NYC’s public schools may have to shut down because the city and state felt they just had to let people dine indoors and workout at a gym says all we need to know about how much our society values public education, particularly when it comes to low-income Black & brown kids.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) November 12, 2020
Another user pointed out that the 3% rate is arbitrary and not connected to low transmission rates in schools at all.
I don’t get why NYC feels bound to stick by a 3% positivity rule for closing schools when we know more about the virus now, including relatively low rates of transmission in schools. If I were a parent I’d be furious.https://t.co/CfZJPDYENy
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 18, 2020
Last Minute Letter From the Chancellor to Principals
Maybe since students are performing so terribly across the board, it is a last ditch attempt to hide how terrible everything is and use COVID as an excuse.