About 8 percent of New York City public school students were tested for COVID at school during their first week back from winter recess. That’s up from just 5 percent in the weeks leading up to the holiday break. 

The uptick in testing coincides with a policy change by the education department as part of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s “Stay Safe and Stay Open” plan. Officials promised to double in-school testing and include vaccinated students in surveillance testing.

How has that plan shaken out?

A WNYC/Gothamist analysis of education department testing data finds that the city fell short of its new goal for students but showed a large rise in testing for teachers. About 70% more students were tested the week of January 3rd compared to the week of December 13th. But only a third of students have opted in to the testing program, limiting the city’s ability to monitor COVID transmission overall, experts say.

Health and science data reporter Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky joined Morning Edition host Michael Hill to discuss what's happening with COVID-19 surveillance in New York City schools. Click "listen" in the player to hear their conversation, and head to Gothamist for more on the story.