New York Removes COVID-19 Restrictions in Schools

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference in New York City on Aug. 3, 2022. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions for schools.

“The days of sending an entire classroom home because one person was symptomatic or tests positive, those days are over,” Hochul said at a press conference on Aug. 22.

The updated guidelines come several weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adjusted its COVID-19 rules, dropping quarantine and social distancing recommendations for those who come in close contact with a COVID-19-positive person.

Hochul referred to the CDC’s updates, noting that the state’s revised rules are in line with the health body.

“What that means is if a classmate tests positive for COVID and your child doesn’t have symptoms, your child can stay in school as long as they wear a mask under those circumstances. That’s what we’re recommending,” Hochul said.

Students with symptoms are still recommended to stay at home for about five days and wear masks until they test negative.

“No longer are we going to be sending kids home, keeping them away from that essential experience of being together in the classroom, because we are now still dealing with the fallout of those decisions made when we had less information,” Hochul said.

Importance of In-Person Learning

Schools will also cancel random testing of asymptomatic students, teachers, and staff, according to the governor.

However, random testing might still be conducted in so-called high-risk activities, such as singing and sports, but it’s up to schools to make the decision, Hochul noted.

The governor stressed the importance of the in-person learning experience, making a note of “suicide rates, depression, real mental health issues that were not there before for many of these children.” She described the situation as deeply troubling.

Hochul believes after two years of experience with COVID-19, children will be safe in the classroom.

Just last week, New York City unveiled new school COVID-19 regulations, which include removing the demand for parents to complete daily health checks while maintaining some vaccination requirements.

The state announced dropping its statewide school mask mandate in February.

Each student of the state will still be provided one COVID-19 test kit for the 2022–2023 school year, which is set to begin on Sept. 8.

Responses

New York Mayor Eric Adams said that he respected the decision of the governor, following her announcement, according to the New York Post.

Meanwhile, Will Barclay, leader of the New York State Assembly Republican Conference, applauded the updated approach.

“With a plan to follow common-sense and science New York is finally taking a step to put children first,” Barclay wrote on Twitter.

“Students deserve every opportunity to succeed in their education and that begins inside the classroom.”