NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday he expects to have a decision this week on whether schools will reopen before the end of the academic year.
School buildings were shuttered statewide in mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19. Students have since transitioned to a distance learning model.
Currently, schools are expected to remain closed until at least May 15. A decision on summer school will also be announced “by the end of this week,” Cuomo said during his daily coronavirus briefing.
On Monday, President Donald Trump urged governors on a conference call to reopen schools before summer break.
Cuomo said he was on that call, but also noted that he is facing a different situation than many governors in the country.
New York has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the nation. On Tuesday, the death toll rose to more than 17,600.
This story comprises reporting from the Associated Press.
