COVID teacher absences hit San Francisco schools

Schools in California are feeling the impact of the dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. California had the lowest case rate in the U.S. in September, but now ranks 31st in new cases per capita over the past two weeks. One in six of San Francisco's 3,600 teachers were out Thursday.

Even with administrators, substitutes and others stepping in there weren't enough teachers for every classroom. Andrew Casteel, one of student parents told that the school district must do more to support teachers.

"We need to have N95s. And it seems like the response from the district is, omicron is not as bad, so people are just going to get it, which is not acceptable.", said Andrew Casteel , student parent.

With large absences of students and teachers, all 54 schools in West Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco, will be closed Friday and Monday. More than 5,000 students have been absent each day this week, or almost a quarter of the 28,000 students enrolled.