As New York City confronts the Omicron variant, we are counting on school chapter leaders again to relay issues to the UFT by calling the union's new safety hotline when you need support.

1. We need chapter leaders to monitor to ensure the following new safety measures are in place in your school: All school staff are to receive an at-home rapid test kit (containing two tests) each week in January. Kits will also be given to all staff and students in a class where a positive case is identified as well as any staff member or student who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
2. All school staff will receive new KN95 masks to use each day at work.
3. 20% of all unvaccinated students in each school will now be randomly tested every week, plus up to 10% of the school staff among those who express an interest will be tested.

Please let the UFT know quickly about any issues in your school.

Call the union’s safety hotline at 212-331-6317 if your school experiences a serious staffing issue, has a mask or rapid-test shortage or is not following the new in-school testing protocols. The line will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The union has created a rapid response protocol to bring the issues you report to the immediate attention of the DOE.