Puerto Rico’s Health Minister announced Thursday that all public and private schools in the United States territory will close for two weeks amid an increase in COVID-19 cases.
The closures will go into effect on April 12, nearly a month after about 100 of the island’s 858 public schools were allowed to reopen for the first time in a year amid the pandemic. Only kindergarten children, special education students, and first, second, third, and twelfth grade children were allowed to return to school. They only attend face-to-face classes twice a week and leave before noon, and school cafeterias are closed.
The announcement was praised by some health experts, teachers and parents who expressed concern about the increase in infections and warned that the reopening of schools is a hasty decision.
Health Minister Carlos Melladu said that while COVID-19 outbreaks have not been identified in any of the schools, this measure is necessary given the recent increase in cases.
The island of 3.2 million people has reported more than 200,000 confirmed and suspected cases and more than 2,000 deaths.
More than 1 million vaccinations have been given since vaccinations began in December, and as of April 12, all people over the age of 16 can get vaccinated. Currently, only people between the ages of 35 and 49 who are chronically ill are permitted to receive the vaccine, along with all people 50 years of age or older.
