By Larry Quick
Eighth in a series
The previous article is at thevoice.us/vitamins-c-and-d-safe-drugs-can-help-avoid-covid-19.
This week’s article will address the issue of how best to re-open our schools and universities. Because this is such an important public policy issue, administrative decisions should be based on the best scientific and medical evidence available.
Unlike influenzas A and B, children have been relatively unaffected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, nor do they appear to be vectors for the transmission of COVID-19.
Dr. Scott Atlas writes:
“As is shown across the world, including Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Iceland, the UK, Australia, and now Ireland, children seldom, if ever transmit the disease to adults, even to their parents.
“To stop COVID-19 dead in its tracks, many governors, mayors, and superintendents are threatening to keep schools closed this Fall, failing to consider the greater harm that comes from refusing to open them. ‘We have to make sure kids are safe, family members are safe, educators are safe, staff is safe,’ said New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. The irony in such language is that children are safe at school already.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that of the first 68,998 U.S. deaths from COVID-19, only 12 have been in children under age 14 — less than 0.02%. Nor is coronavirus killing teenagers. At last count, the fatality total among children under 18 without an underlying condition is one; only 10 of the 16,469 confirmed coronavirus deaths in New York City were among those under the age of 18. That’s similar to the fatality rate for those under 20 in France, estimated at 0.001%, and in Spain.
“The death of even one child is tragic, of course. Yet, it must be kept in mind that as many as 600 children in the United States died from seasonal influenza in 2017-18, according to CDC estimates, while the CDC’s estimate for COVID-19 fatalities number just 12.”
Many parents are beginning to be advocates for a return to the classroom, believing that in-person teaching and social interaction are essential to a child’s well being. A small school district in Wisconsin (approximately 70 students) provided an interesting model for the start of the school year.
The school district allows choice for parents and students in planning how learning will be achieved when the school year starts. Parents will have the option of returning their children to the classroom, having their children learn solely online or supporting a home schooling option.
Of the approximately 70 children in the School District, 36 planned to return to the classroom, eight were planning for virtual instruction and 17 were planning for a home schooling option with the remainder still considering their best option. Choice may be the preferred strategy.
Next article is at thevoice.us/british-telegraph-newspaper-children-not-spreading-covid-19.