New York City’s Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio is backtracking and now siding with President Trump. The Democrat is now saying that New York schools “can and should” be kept open. The Big Apple has flip-flopped on opening school briefly only to send students back home with their laptops. Trump has been saying for months that students must resume in-person learning, especially once data revealed the low level of transmission rates between children and the often less-severe symptoms.

Fox News reports:

De Blasio said that between Dec. 7 and 23, nearly 100,000 tests were taken from students and staff, and the rate was 0.68 percent.

“Look at the amazing success we’ve had in our schools, keeping them safe,” Hizzoner said. “Clearly New York City public schools one of the safest places to be in all of New York City.”

“I am confident that we can and should keep them open but again the state will make that ultimate decision based on state data and state standards,” he said.

Indicators on Tuesday suggested that a shutdown was still a possibility. The city had 182 new hospitalizations, below its 200 metric, but its 3,390 positive or suspected cases and 7.45 percent positivity rate (on a seven-day average) are above the city’s thresholds.

New York City closed schools in November because of a spike in cases in the city before partially reopening them in December after continued pressure from parents.