Over two dozen local leaders from the state Assembly, state Senate and City Council sent a letter calling on Mayor Eric Adams to bring back remote learning for all New York City schools for a limited time amid the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases. 

The elected officials say that all city schools should go remote until Jan. 18 to allow more time for schools to receive necessary COVID supplies such as masks and testing kits and to allow for parents to get their kids tested and vaccinated. 

The elected leaders said in part, “It is important to note the impact the surge in cases could have on staff and students’ mental wellbeing as we enter a third year of the pandemic. Providing families, the time to test and vaccinate will provide benefits in the long term and slow the spread of COVID-19.”