One million students return to New York City classrooms despite COVID-19 surge

New York, September 14 (RHC)-- Coronavirus cases are back on the rise across the United States. More than 1,800 COVID-19 deaths were reported Monday, and the U.S. is confirming an average of more than 170,000 infections a day.  That’s up from last week, when the Labor Day holiday led to a gap in data about the U.S. outbreak.

In New York City, nearly 1 million public school students returned to classrooms Monday, most of them for the first time in a year and a half.  Teachers are required to be vaccinated, though they have until September 27 to get their first shot.

In the U.S. state of Iowa, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of a Republican-led ban on mask mandates in schools.  The federal judge sided with parents of disabled students who argued their children were being denied equal access to education since they’re at higher risk of COVID-19.

In Florida, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said he will fine city and county governments $5,000 per employee if they impose vaccine mandates — this as new data show child COVID-19 deaths have doubled in Florida since students returned to classrooms, many of them without mask requirements in place.