nothin King Robinson Covid Testing Tested | New Haven Independent

King Robinson Covid Testing Tested

Courtney Luciana photo.

Superintendent Tracey gets tested at King Robinson.

It doesn’t hurt, but it just felt funny, like the test shouldn’t be all the way up my nose,” New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Iline Tracey said with a smile after getting swabbed for Covid-19.

Tracey made that comment Thursday when she joined city officials, fellow public school administrators, and city residents at King-Robinson Interdistrict Magnet School to test out the school’s Covid-19 testing operation.

The public health presser took place a few weeks before the city school system, which started the school year entirely online, plans to reopen for hybrid online and in-person learning starting Nov. 9.

Tracey said that the installation of MERV 13 filters at schools across the city was a decisive factor in her feeling confident about the schools being safe enough to stick with the hybrid model starting in November. Along with those building upgrades, she said the number of Covid-19 cases in the city have stayed just low enough to send students and staff back for in person learning.

The MERV 13 is the highest level of filtration for the air quality of the buildings. About 10 schools have them right now and I was told that a large order just arrived yesterday, and over time will be installed in all of the schools,” she said. There are different sizes of the filters depending on the building’s dimensions.”

Tracey said that there will be roughly three schools that will not have the MERV 13 filters installed because the buildings’ layout and design don’t require such an installation. She said her administration will be advising those schools to open a large ceiling window or several windows for fresh air to filter throughout the buildings.

NHPS Assistant Superintendent Paul Whyte said that, as of Wednesday, an estimated 8,800 students have opted to stay remote and not return to in-person learning come Nov. 9.

We’re continuing to confirm those numbers,” he said. That’s a little more than 45 percent. It helps to maintain the distance for the families that want their students to stay home and for those who want to learn in person.”

City Health Department Director Martiza Bond (pictured) said that her office has provided a report to all of the schools with guidance on reopening.

She said that students will not be required to get tested before returning to the classroom.

Of course, it’s highly recommended as we prepare for schools reopening for everyone to get tested,” Bond said. Our testing logistics team has worked diligently on identifying opportunities to expand testing for families. The health department has provided an assessment for each of the schools to ensure that our kids will be ready for November 9.”

Bond said that she feels confident about reopening schools on a hybrid model in part because most of the recent increase in Covid-19 positive tests in the city have come from people aged 25 to 49, rather than from school-age children.

If the trend changes then we will meet as a team and make the decision collectively as we did back in March when having to make the tough decision to close down schools. We’re monitoring the cases and right now we’re in the yellow.”

Bond reminded the community to follow the Three W’s. Wearing a mask and wearing it correctly, watching your distance, and washing your hands often. The city’s testing site locations that change weekly can be found here.

Mayor Justin Elicker (pictured) said that he has made sure to get tested himself every couple of weeks. Elicker said that he wanted to get tested today in the public eye as part of an effort to encourage communities to get tested. Elicker said that his own children will be returning to in person learning with the start of schools reopening.

As long as our cases continue to remain relatively low then I think we will be in a good place to open up the schools. My 5‑year old will absolutely be returning to in person learning. In person learning is something that you can’t match compared to online learning. When you think about learning, it’s not just the academic aspect. It’s about developing social skills with kids from all different backgrounds and a lot of components of education that you can’t match at home.”

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