As New York schools reopen for the academic year, the state is proactively supplying rapid COVID-19 test kits and masks to school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) upon request, according to a Tuesday announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The initiative comes in the wake of concerns about the BA.2.86 variant and a noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations over the summer months.
Gov. Hochul praised the collaborative efforts of educators and parents in ensuring a safe return for students, highlighting the essential role of regular testing in averting outbreaks. She pledged her commitment to equipping schools with the necessary resources for a protected, in-person learning setting. Following district and BOCES requests, the state plans to dispatch N-95 and KN-95 masks alongside the test kits for distribution. Most New York school districts are resuming classes this week.
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