The coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of city schools last week, but the mayor is focusing this afternoon on a path forward to reopening in-person public education.

As of now, Mayor Bill de Blasio says school classrooms will reopen in layers.

Despite city schools reporting low levels of positive tests in their buildings, he made the decision to temporarily shut down in-person learning out of precaution last week.

Four of the city's five boroughs have parts that are now under precautionary yellow zones because of an increase of COVID-19 cases. To avoid a possible second wave, city and state officials have laid down once again stricter restrictions. That included moving all students to remote learning.

According to the mayor, all these percentages in positivity rates are based on data and science. When the time comes to reopen school buildings again, the mayor says it will happen in stages.

A very similar situation to what the city saw when students returned back to the classroom in September. The focus will first start by opening buildings for District 75 schools, those special needs school, then early education, pre-K children, followed by elementary school students.

As to what parents can do now, the mayor is asking parents to sign the consent forms to allow your child to get tested when the time comes and that he says will help speed up the process.