TO REOPEN OR NOT TO REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS

1. ) Should We Try to Reopen Schools?

Only If We Do It Right, Unlike Our Rush to Reopen The Economy. And with cases rising rapidly in dozens of states, I just don’t see it happening. We’re headed in the absolute wrong direction right now…but reopening schools is a worthy goal to consider.

If Trump wants to reopen schools, here’s what his administration needs to do – by Dr. Leana Wen

Thoughts on reopening schools by Andy Slavitt, Former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

2.) Because We Screwed Up This Spring and Early Summer. Reopening Schools Was Just an Afterthought

“Americans found out the hard way that education is essential infrastructure.”

3.) And Given a Low Priority Considering What Was at Stake In the Future: School-Closing Costs Are Crushing Children and Parents

We chose BARS and RESTAURANTS over schools, in a shortsighted and short-lived effort to boost the economy. All of that economic gain will be lost by the time the school year begins, along with much of our ability to safely reopen schools due to the high infection rates around the country.

“The U.S. should be prioritizing what is most important to society. At the top of the list should be children’s futures and current livelihoods. Socializing in bars should be at the bottom of the list. And yet the decisions of mayors and governors to allow frivolities means that the U.S. will have to cut back where it hurts the most, not the least.“

“Measures should be taken to protect teachers and students when schools reopen. But even with those measures, open schools would likely increase the transmission rate of the virus, so other steps should be taken to slow the spread. Washington should be providing leadership and guidance to local schools districts on how to reopen, along with funding to help them do so safely.“

4.) This Must Be Done Right, Because If You Think Kids Don’t Get Hospitalized, THINK AGAIN: Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020 – CDC report.

The U.S. has roughly 60 MILLION under 18, school aged children. Keep that in mind when reviewing these hospitalization percentages
—5.7% to 20% of infected children under age 18 ended up in the hospital.
—.58% to 2% were admitted to an ICU.

“Information on hospitalization status was available for 745 (29%) cases in children aged <18 years and 35,061 (31%) cases in adults aged 18–64 years. Among children with COVID-19, 147 (estimated range = 5.7%–20%) were reported to be hospitalized, with 15 (0.58%–2.0%) admitted to an ICU (Figure 2). Among adults aged 18–64 years, the percentages of patients who were hospitalized (10%–33%), including those admitted to an ICU (1.4%–4.5%), were higher. Children aged <1 year accounted for the highest percentage (15%–62%) of hospitalization among pediatric patients with COVID-19. Among 95 children aged <1 year with known hospitalization status, 59 (62%) were hospitalized, including five who were admitted to an ICU. The percentage of patients hospitalized among those aged 1–17 years was lower (estimated range = 4.1%–14%)”

5.) And Our Children Will Get Infected. Here’s a Quick Preview of What Schools Are Up Against When They Reopen.

Missouri Summer Camp Virus Outbreak Raises Safety Questions

UC Berkeley has 47 new COVID-19 cases, mostly from week of frat parties

6.) SO. HOW DO WE DO THIS?

FIRST.

WE MUST NOT CHANGE THE CDC’S SCIENTIFICALLY DEVELOPED SCHOOL REOPENING GUIDELINES TO MAKE IT EASIER OR LESS OF A BURDEN FOR A SCHOOL TO REOPEN, like Vice President’s Pence suggested when he said “We don’t want the guidance from CDC to be a reason why schools don’t open.”

The school needs to meet the CDC standards…not the other way around. And meeting the CDC standards will take money…something our administration and lawmakers have seemed to have forgotten.

THEN.

WE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS GIVEN TO US BY THE EXPERTS. THE FIRST SET OF GUIDELINES…NOT THE REVISED GUIDELINES FORCED BY THE WHITE HOUSE…AND CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION.