As a committee of physicians who have been involved in the care of COVID patients and followed the progression of COVID closely, we believe that the extremely low prevalence of the disease (<1% test positivity currently) in NY City allows for school reopening. For this reopening to be successful we need our entire community of Bronx Science students and families to strictly follow the playbook that has allowed NYC to get to this low rate and maintain it. That playbook is simple: a commitment to effective masking, frequent hand washing/sanitizing, and social distancing alongside judicious use of testing. We support the cautious approach of the DOE in setting 3% citywide test positivity as the threshold to transition everyone to 100% remote learning.
We have all lived with a high level of uncertainty in our lives these past 6 months. The reopening of schools is one of the most complex challenges we face in the midst of this pandemic. We must all do our part to ensure that children and staff who are in the school building have risk minimized as much as possible. Please reinforce to your children that adherence to the school rules around COVID prevention is essential for the wellbeing of the community. Face coverings, interpersonal distance, and hand hygiene cannot be overemphasized. Thank you and stay well!
