A top New York City politician called for all public schools to be temporarily shuttered in an effort to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted on Friday morning that the Big Apple must make quick and effective decisions to protect students and teachers from widening the outbreak that has already infected more than 1,700 people in the United States, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
“It is time to close our public schools,” Johnson tweeted. “This isn’t an easy decision, but we must take aggressive measures to stop the spread of #COVID19. Teaching and learning can not take place under these circumstances for the safety and well being of the teachers and students.”
Johnson, who rose to be speaker of the council after years serving on Manhattan’s Community Board 4, stressed that it would require more than quarantine measures to help New Yorkers get through what is expected to be at least a weekslong fight against the disease.
“The city must come up with a plan that includes child care relief for families who need it so that our workers can continue working, especially healthcare workers,” Johnson added. “We need food and medical services for students who need it. It is not time to panic. But it is time to act.”
Earlier this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to work from home as the coronavirus spreads throughout the city. New York City has confirmed dozens of cases of the virus and canceled the St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time in its more than 250-year history.
The city must come up with a plan that includes child care relief for families who need it so that our workers can continue working, especially health care workers. We need food and medical services for students who need it. It is not time to panic. But it is time to act. 2/
— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) March 13, 2020
