Up Close: NYC schools reopening, COVID-19 vaccine, President Trump opposes medical task force

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Up Close: NYC schools, coronavirus vaccine, Trump opposes medical team
Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter discusses the issues on Up Close.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- In this episode of Up Close, Mayor Bill de Blasio decides that there have been too many problems to start full in-person learning for the New York City school system.

The school year begins on September 21, with a phased reopening to in-person learning.

Grades 3-k, pre-k and special education kids in district 75 will start on September 21, while Kindergarten through 5th-grade returns on September 29, and high school starts October 1.

The United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew discusses the new timeline and what it took to change the Mayor's mind.

Also, On September 2, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, Robert Redfield, said states could get vaccines by November 1, coincidentally two days before Election Day.

Now, the CDC Director predicts that most Americans would not have access to a coronavirus vaccine until late spring or summer of next year.

ABC News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton tries to clear up the confusion caused by mixing politics and medicine.

Plus, ABC News Political Director Rick Klein and Political Consultant Hank Sheinkopf weigh in on President Trump's opposing medical experts and how this might affect his re-election campaign.

WATCH Up Close on our Connected TV apps for Fire, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV. Click here to learn more.

RELATED: Watch more episodes of Up Close

Up Close with Bill Ritter airs Sunday mornings at 11:00 on Channel 7.