NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The town will ramp up COVID-19 testing when children return to school subsequent week after the vacation break.
The announcement got here Tuesday in response to rising hospitalizations throughout the nation that embody kids.
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CBS2’s John Dias has extra on town’s strategy.
Watch: Mayor De Blasio’s Tuesday COVID-19 Briefing
Native leaders are banding collectively, as college students put together to move again to the books after vacation break.
Mayor Bill de Blasio stated he’s working carefully with Mayor-elect Eric Adams to make sure a seamless transition, with the protection of youngsters as a prime precedence.
“Colleges must be open, and so we’re shifting day by day to ensure our colleges stay secure,” de Blasio stated.
FIND TESTING SITES: Click here for New York City’s testing site locator, together with cell websites and at-home appointments
Simply as Adams takes the baton beginning Jan. 3, town will double the quantity of PCR testing per week in every college, from 40,000 to 80,000, a transfer that will even embody lecturers and employees.
“Best pattern dimension in every, so we get much more correct and clear outcomes. We’re going to embody each vaccinated and unvaccinated college students,” de Blasio stated.
The town will even implement a brand new initiative referred to as, “Keep Secure and Keep Open.”
“When there’s a constructive case in a classroom, each little one takes residence at-home take a look at kits. Each little one that assessments detrimental comes again to highschool. It’s so simple as that,” de Blasio stated.
COVID VACCINE
To ensure provide doesn’t run out, Gov. Kathy Hochul stated the state will give town 2 million at home-tests kits.
“State and metropolis working collectively. We’re going to guarantee that there isn’t a scarcity of provide,” Hochul stated.
The initiative comes as hospitalizations are climbing, particularly amongst kids. In New York Metropolis, pediatric COVID hospitalizations have nearly quadrupled within the final two weeks. The Division of Well being says none of these sufferers ages 5 to 11 have been totally vaccinated.
“All of us must work collectively to maintain children at school and studying, and we are able to do this by vaccinating, boosting and masking up,” stated Dr. Tom Frieden, the previous director of the Centers for Disease Control.
AVOID THE LINES: Click here for NYC Health+Hospitals testing wait times
Nonetheless, the CDC on Monday changed its guidelines, saying these uncovered to COVID however boosted will not must quarantine, whereas unvaccinated individuals ought to nonetheless quarantine for 5 full days.
The company has additionally shortened the really useful time for isolation after getting COVID, from 10 to 5 days if asymptomatic.
“The virus is adapting. Omicron is completely different, very completely different from prior strains and we have to adapt to take action appropriately the CDC is adapting their steerage,” Frieden stated.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
New Yorkers that spoke to CBS2 stated they’re embracing the change.
“I believe it’s very affordable, I do, as a result of we’ve to dwell with this for now on,” stated Marge Kelly of Chelsea.
“The science looks like it’s there, so I’m fairly effective with it,” stated Mikey Cavenee of Hell’s Kitchen.
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Some are questioning if the change is a choice primarily based extra on science or economics, however CDC officers predict the U.S. nonetheless shouldn’t be near the height of Omicron, so a plan must be in place to make sure society continues to operate.
