De Blasio Changes Course, Announces He Will Close New York City Schools Because of Coronavirus Outbreak

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that city’s public schools will close on Monday due to concerns of the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are dealing with a challenge and a crisis that we have never seen in our lifetimes, and it has only just begun,” de Blasio said on Sunday, adding, “I regret to have to announce that as of tomorrow our public schools will be closed.”

“We will make a first attempt to restart our schools on Monday, April 20,” he added.

He continued:

“I have to be honest. We’re dealing with a lot of unknowns and a lot of challenges. And we understand how difficult it will be to achieve that goal.”

Watch his comments below:

De Blasio said he understands the “full cost” of closing the schools and said it was a decision he made with “no joy.”

“To say the least, this is a very troubling moment, a moment where I am just distraught at having to take this action,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, de Blasio said he was “very reticent to shut down schools for a variety of reasons.”

He explained:

“Not just because that’s where a lot of kids get their only good meals, where they get adult supervision, especially teenagers, who otherwise would be out on the streets.”

However, facing mounting pressure from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and teachers, de Blasio changed course. The schools are scheduled to re-open on April 20, but they could remain closed for the rest of the school year.