Milwaukee schools shifting classes online as more staffers test positive

The Milwaukee Public School (MPS) district will transition to online learning as staffers increasingly test positive for COVID-19, The Associated Press reported on Monday.

MPS said in a statement that had been preparing to return to in-person instruction on Tuesday but that the rise of coronavirus infections has altered those plans. 

“MPS was scheduled to resume in-person learning on January 4, 2022, but due to an influx of reported positive COVID-19 cases among district staff, this emergency safety measure is being implemented,” MPS said, adding that next Monday is its new target date. 

The U.S is currently dealing with a winter surge of COVID-19 infections as the omicron variant has taken hold across the nation.

MPS said that students and staff can go to six district locations to get tested for the coronavirus. 

MPS, which includes more than 75,000 students, said COVID-19 testing will be available for students and faculty at each district location when in-person learning returns, the AP reported. 

The Hill has reached out to MPS for further comment.