Hartford sticks with in-person learning

Bronin: ‘Strong likelihood’ of future shift to hybrid model

HARTFORD — Hartford schools will continue full-time, in-person learning for at least two more weeks as the recent increase in coronavirus cases has leveled off, aside from a spike at Trinity College, the city said Monday.

Hartford’s health department and school district will reevaluate the number of new COVID-19 cases and other factors early next week to determine whether the public schools should shift to hybrid learning, a change that would impact the 7,400 students who have opted to attend Hartford schools in person.

In the seven days before Oct. 8, Hartford had an average of 15.6 new daily cases per 100,000 people, up from 8.3 the week before, according to Hartford Public Schools. That increase includes some of the c now 45 active cases among the student body — up from 20 last week —

“While weare seeing more cases than we were a few weeks ago, last week our indicators were steady overall, and I fully support the decision to continue in-person learning and evaluate again next week,” Mayor Luke Bronin said in a news release. “There’s a strong likelihood that the district will have to shift models at some point, but weknow that for thousands of children and families, that shift will present enormous challenges, and we want to continue to offer a fully in-person educational option for as long as we responsibly can.”

During the week of Sept. 27, 2% of Hartford tests came back positive, up from 1.3% the week before according to statistics shared by the city. Last week, that increased to 2.3% due in part to a large