Cuomo Outlines Metrics for Schools to Reopen

admin Posted OnJuly 13, 2020

2.5K Views

Cuomo Outlines Metrics for Schools to Reopen: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today the formula New York State has established to trigger the reopening of schools in September. Like the reopening metrics established for other New York businesses, all school thresholds must be met on a regional basis. Westchester County is part of the Mid-Hudson Region that includes Rockland, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, and Orange counties.

Infection Rates will lead the way to an August 1 decision

The first hurdle will be that the region must have already qualified for Phase 4 economic activity under the NY Forward Plan. Nine of the state’s ten regions have done so with the exception of New York City. Next the region’s COVID-19 infection rate must be 5% or lower over a 14-day period. All nine New York regions currently in Phase 4 are well under the 5% rate – ranging from .2% in the North Country Region (from the Adirondacks to the Canadian Border and west to Lake Ontario) to 1.5% on Long Island. The Mid-Hudson Region currently has an infection rate of .8%

While Westchester County schools would qualify for reopening if the decision were made today that would be subject to change if there were a sudden spike in COVID infection rates before August 1. That’s the live date to trigger the green lighting of schools for the fall. New York could still apply the breaks if regional infection rates spiked to over 9% on a seven-day average any time before classes begin in the fall.

The New York State Department of Education’s (DOE) Board of Regents will release detailed guidelines, like those previously released for Phase 1, 2, 3 & 4 businesses, to help school district’s develop individualized plans for their fall semesters. DOE guidelines will include mandatory and recommended protocols on screening for all students, plus tracing, masks, social distancing, food services, transportation and more. All schools are required to submit plans outlining what school schedules would look like under three separate models: in-person instruction, remote learning or a combination of the two.

The Governor cautioned about potential COVID spikes from lack of compliance by New Yorkers, as well as the virus reentering the state from travelers from other states currently experiencing their own COVID spikes. State officials are currently investigating an uptick in cases in Rensselaer County that may be traced back to several individuals who recently traveled to Georgia.

Cuomo’s new EO levies fines on travelers to New York

He also announced a new Executive Order that will require air travelers enterring New York from states with high rates of COVID-19 to provide their local contact information or face a penalty of up to $2,000. Travelers will be required to fill out a form at the airport when they arrive in New York. Additionally, travelers from states on the “Quarantine List” who are caught violating their 14-day self-quarantine can be subject to a mandatory quarantine order from the state or local health department which would also carry a $2,000 fine.

Georgia is one of 19 states on NY’s Quarantine List that also includes Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive infection test rate of over 10% on a 7-day rolling average.

Other COVID News: The Westchester Opens, Movie Theaters on hold

The Westchester Mall has reopened under specific and amended Phase 4 Guidelines requiring high efficiency ventilation systems (like HEPA filters) capable of filtering out COVID-19 particles that measure 0.125 microns. The State is still reviewing guidelines for other high-risk entertainment facilities such as casinos and movie theaters that were originally part of the state’s Phase 4 plan but are currently on hold. As in the mall scenario, ventilation system issues are what’s holding back their reopening.