#19 NYC schools closed this week due to COVID-19 cases

They had barely cracked a book.

A total of 19 city schools have already emptied out their classrooms due to COVID-19 cases this week — just days after reopening.

According to Department of Education data, Queens saw seven schools shutter, the Bronx had five, Brooklyn four, Staten Island two and Manhattan one.

In addition, five Learning Bridges centers that provide daycare for remote learners were also closed this week along with four early-learning facilities.

Another Staten Island school was shuttered for coronavirus cases in the week prior to the reopening, according to the DOE.

Roughly 850 schools for students in grades K-5 and pre-K — along with some special needs buildings — resumed in-person learning on Monday.

The DOE launched a renewed COVID-19 testing regime for students and staff beginning this past Monday that triggered the fresh closures.

So far this year, 479 schools have been temporarily locked up at some point due to coronavirus infections.

The DOE reported 55 new student positives and 58 staff cases on Thursday.

So far this year, 2,028 students and 2,563 staff have tested positive for the virus, according to DOE numbers.

Buildings close for varying periods depending on the scope and circumstances of COVID cases.

As part of his school reopening plan, Mayor Bill de Blasio instituted a more stringent mandatory testing program for both staffers and students.

Parents must consent to random testing on a weekly basis for their kids to attend in-person classes and teachers who refuse the screens are removed from payroll.

De Blasio has asserted that ramped up testing helps to guard against COVID-19 outbreaks in the country’s largest school system.

“We have strict protocols in place to keep our schools safe and we don’t hesitate to thoroughly investigate and take quick action if there is a positive case reported in the building,” said DOE spokesperson Miranda Barbot. “While we are increasing testing in schools to once per week, we continue to emphasize our preventative safety measures: frequent handwashing, social distancing, and face coverings.”