#UFT threatens to delay school opening if COVID-19 testing doesn’t improve

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Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers.
Robert Miller

The head of the city’s teachers’ union said Thursday that if the Department of Education doesn’t improve it’s COVID-19 testing they are going to prevent schools from opening Sept. 21.

The threat came after United Federation of Teachers Michael Mulgrew revealed that  16 city teachers have tested positive for COVID-19 out of 15,000 recently checked for the virus.

While that amounts to a minimal infection rate of roughly 0.1 percent,  Mulgrew told NBC Thursday that that the city’s testing turnaround times were worrisome.

“If these people were tested starting September why are we just getting the results now?” he asked.

Both City Hall and the UFT have said that they expect sporadic coronavirus cases among school staffers but insist that they have appropriate response protocols in place.

Mulgrew warned that shoddy testing procedures could threaten Mayor Bill de Blasio’s targeted school reopening date of September 21.

“If the city can’t live up to its side of this agreement then we’re going to say you can’t open,” Mulgrew told NBC.

A City Hall spokesperson defended the testing regime.

“We’ve worked to make testing as fast and convenient for school-based staff across the city and the results have paid off, with over 95% of tests coming back within 48 hours,” said Avery Cohen. “We’re committed to testing every last case of the virus, and will continue to work in lockstep with UFT to ensure we are doing everything in our power to make schools safe.”

Roughly 61 percent of city kids are slated to begin a blended learning format where they will alternate between home and campus learning.