Ventilation In 21 New York City Schools Need Work

Ventilation can help us all breathe easier. Buildings across the country have been working hard to bring workers and students back safely. Schools have had a unique opportunity to get things right; time. How have schools done with the summer months to reopen?In April, New York City was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and the world. For weeks, its healthcare system was held together by sheer determination, with millions of people observing strict lockdown guidelines to flatten the curve. One of the earliest moves was to close schools across the city, a reaction that put a strain on all residents. The strain was worth it. Today, New York City and indeed New York state seems to be one of the most successful locations to have dealt with its outbreak. However, all of that progress could be put into jeopardy over the coming weeks. Tens of thousands of students are heading back to school in-person. Earlier this summer, school officials pushed back the official start of face-to-face instruction to give educators and administration more time to adjust, test, and prepare. Just this week, however, twenty-one schools across the city advised teachers to stay home. Staff had been reporting to schools to prepare for school and to undergo annual professional development classes. There is optimism that even the worst of those twenty-one schools could still be safe by the September 21 back-to-school date. The administration is working with a number of local contractors to make the necessary ventilation and HVAC improvements necessary to get those facilities up to the COVID-19 standards now in place. While children currently account for just 3.3% of New York City’s coronavirus cases, that low rate of illness is likely thanks to such quick school closures and strict guidelines that canceled everything from class to team sports to events. To get back to school safely, proper HVAC and ventilation systems, including adequate air purification fixtures, will be vital. At Keen, we’ve been working with Michigan schools and businesses to keep people safe. To learn more, call us today to schedule your COVID-19 consultation.