The DOE should prepare now for the return from Winter Break

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Dear John

Over the weekend NYC reported higher numbers of positive COVID-19 cases than any other point in the pandemic, as the Omicron and Delta variants spread rapidly around the city. Lines were long (far too long) at many testing sites as people prepared for holiday travel or followed up on possible exposure.

We don’t yet know how long the spike in infections will last (there are signs that the Omicron wave has peaked in South Africa ([link removed]) already) but the actions we take now, individually and collectively, can help prevent overwhelming our health system and keep people healthy.

Reduce unnecessary risks. Take precautions. I’ve called for the City and large employers to allow non-essential employees to work from home through the end of the year, and to surge testing capacity in schools. We’ve been hearing from many parents and educators worried about the spread in schools, where cases and closures are rising and some families are keeping kids home this week. One thing is clear, the return from Winter Break on January 3rd will be a critical moment.

Here are steps NYC can take to ensure that Winter Break does not accelerate this wave of infections:
* Get everyone, vaccinated or not, tested before returning to classrooms on January 3rd. All educators, staff and students should be asked to show a recent negative test on Jan 3 OR be provided with a rapid test in school on that morning. City-run testing sites can ensure priority for educators and students’ families that weekend, just as they did before back-to-school, and the City can stock schools up with rapid tests so that those who arrive the morning back from break can get a test before going to the classroom.
* Surge Situation Room capacity to get answers to schools in a timely fashion. Right now we are hearing that principals are waiting hours or even days to get guidance from the Situation Room. We have time before January 3 to significantly ramp up capacity.
* Resume increased testing protocols. Schools should return to testing 20% of ALL students and educators, including the vaccinated, while the Omicron variant surges. The current protocols just aren't enough to keep track of in-school spread.

I’m calling on the Mayor and Mayor-Elect to start preparing now for the return from Winter Break, with increased testing, a push for vaccination of 5-12 year olds (as of yesterday only 34% of 5-17 year olds in Brooklyn are fully vaccinated), and increased communication to support schools.

We are in this together, and the steps our public health officials take (or don’t) will matter greatly for how long this surge lasts and how severe it will be. But we all have an individual role to play too:

Get vaccinated and boosted. Wear high quality masks. Test before holiday gatherings.

Vaccines: The best thing you can do to reduce risk of severe illness is still to get vaccinated and boosted. Public health officials are starting to say that they will consider “fully vaccinated” to mean three shots. The vaccine mandate for the private sector will go into effect next Monday, Dec. 27. Sign up here ([link removed]) to get an appointment.

Masks: If you’ve been wearing cloth masks, it's time to upgrade. N95 or KN95 masks provide significantly more protection ([link removed]) , and you can still wear a cloth mask over it ([link removed]) for fashion.

Testing: While testing capacity is still not where it needs to be, the city is increasing the number of both brick and mortar sites and mobile vans this week. Check the H+ H website ([link removed]) or this Brooklyn list for new locations ([link removed]) . If lines are too long, ask for the at-home rapid tests to do on your own, the city sites should have them today.

If you test positive: Stay isolated and rest ([link removed]) . There are resources available ([link removed]) from the City, from hotel rooms for isolation, food delivery, and antibody treatment to help, and head to the hospital if you are having trouble breathing.

Our anxiety is back (if it ever dissipated at all) and it’s time to recalibrate our individual risk calculus and take more collective public health precautions. But thankfully we do have far more tools than we did in March 2020 – from vaccines, to boosters, to tests, and high quality masks.

Take care,

Brad

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