The public schools in Pittsfield, Massachusetts will not return to in-person education until the city’s COVID-19 rates drop.
The city announced Friday that learning will remain remote until data shows a decrease in cases over a two-week period that results in a positive rate of 3% or less. Currently, the city’s rate is above 6% with over 350 cases in the past two weeks.
“We are extraordinarily concerned about the very high case rates and positivity rates in the city of Pittsfield, and as you know, we have entered the ‘red’ category in the state’s designations, meaning that Pittsfield is considered higher risk for the transmission of COVID-19,” said Mayor Linda Tyer.
The schools – shuttered in mid-November – are not expected to reopen before the December 23rd holiday break.