Governor Cuomo Announces That, Based on Each Region's Infection Rate, Schools Across New York State are Permitted to Open This Fall

 

Every Region's Infection Rate Is Below the Threshold Necessary By The State's Standards To All Schools To Reopen Based on Strict Department of Health Guidelines 

In-Person vs Partial Reopening to Be Determined Locally By Each Individual School District 

Department of Health Will Review Submitted Reopening Plans From School Districts And Notify Districts of Their Status on Monday

School Districts Must Have Three-Five Public Meetings with Parents Prior to August 21

One Percent of Yesterday's COVID-19 Tests were Positive

5 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 1,028 Establishments, Observes 14 Violations of State Requirements

Confirms 714 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 419,642; New Cases in 44 Counties 

Governor Cuomo: "By our infection rates, all school districts can open everywhere in the state. Every region is below the threshold that we established which is just great news. Let me say it this way: You look at our infection rate; we are probably in the best situation in the country right now - as incredible as that is. If anyone can open schools, we can open schools. That's true for every region in the state. Period."

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that based on each region's infection rate, schools across the state are permitted to open this fall. Every region's infection rate is below the threshold necessary by the State's standards to open schools. The Department of Health will review submitted reopening plans from school districts and notify districts of their status on Monday. Out of 749 school districts across the state, 127 have not yet submitted plans to the Department of Health, and another 50 are incomplete or deficient.  The determination of how individual districts reopen - in-person vs a hybrid model - will be made by local school districts under strict Department of Health guidelines. The Department of Health's guidance is available here.

The Governor also announced that school districts must post their remote learning plan online as well as their plan for testing and tracing students and teachers. Schools must also have three to five public meetings prior to August 21 with parents - who will be allowed to participate remotely - as well as one meeting with teachers to go through their reopening plan. 

The Governor also updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.