“Pending approval from the state of New York, starting Wednesday morning, public and nonpublic schools would be closed in these areas” pic.twitter.com/6ryTGrDx7f
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) October 4, 2020
New York City’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio (D), admitted that there is no problem with public schools within 11 New York City zip codes, but he is shutting them down anyway just to be “proactive.”
“This was not an easy choice to make, and let me be clear: we haven’t seen any issues in these schools. We must, however, be proactive about the safety and health of New Yorkers,” de Blasio said. “This is out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with a larger strategy that mirrors what we did successfully in the spring of a larger shutdown to make ensure we stopped the spread.”
All “non-essential” businesses, public and private schools (and daycares), as well as indoor & outdoor dining at restaurants will be closed by Wednesday under the order. The move comes after neighborhoods in the outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens reported a 3% positivity rate in Covid19 cases for at least seven consecutive days.
About half a million people, 100 public and 200 non-public schools stand to be impacted. The affected zip codes are: 11691 (Edgemere/Far Rockaway), 11219 (Borough Park), 11223 (Gravesend/Homecrest), 11230 (Midwood), 11204 (Bensonhurt/Mapleton), 11210 (Flatlands/Midwood), 11229 (Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay), 11415 (Kew Gardens), 11367 (Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok).
Approval from New York State for the closures is still pending.