“There are three pillars to protecting this city and the long-term health and safety of our people: our schools, our mass transit and our health care system,” Mr. de Blasio said. Attendance in New York City public schools plummeted to 68 percent on Friday from 85 percent the day before. The city school system is so large, however, that even the sharply lower rate meant that well over 680,000 children were in school. Some of New York City’s schools encouraged parents to keep even mildly sick children at home, saying that absences would be excused. “This is the kind of decision making you have to approach in a way that has nothing to do with everyday normal,” he said.

Source: New York Times March 13, 2020 11:24 UTC