APS - how do you feel about no distancing in the fall?

[Anonymous]

It makes me less comfortable, but we will still likely do it pending a massive explosion in cases this summer which obviously I don't expect to happen. Masks will be crucial, as will good air filters in every single classroom. Lunch makes me most nervous and I hope every school works really hard to get kids outdoors on all but the worst weather days for meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think we should push for hybrid but we should be pushing for ventilation, outdoor lunches, good masks, surveillance/pooled testing, etc.

+ 1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe ok in the classroom, but not good at all for lunch and buses.

Why? 3ft vs 6ft vs 60ft indoors make no difference. If kids are eating 6ft apart, it’s not like the air won’t go across the room.

By fall, rates will be much lower. I am not even a tiny bit worried.

Distancing doesn’t matter for the hours and hours in enclosed rooms with lame masks.

+1 I am very worried that this is a death sentence for many because of the duration and proximity.

Ok drama queen. Bring it down a notch.

You can always keep your kids home for a robust DL education

She is absolutely right. Unvaccinated kids who are not socially distanced in closed rooms for 7 hours a day is a recipe for disaster. Kids are going to get sick and kids will die. Come back here when that is happening and try calling me a drama queen, too. Just because you're willfully ignorant doesn't mean the rest of us are as well.

According to this Washington Post article published in Feb, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2021/covid-children-deaths/, 271 children died of Covid out of 3 million reported cases. The 2019-2020 flu season reported 188 pediatric deaths from influenza, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/2019-20-pediatric-flu-deaths.htm#:~:text=LinkedIn-,2019%2D20%20Season's%20Pediatric%20Flu%20Deaths%20Tie%20High,Set%20During%202017%2D18%20Season&text=August%2021%2C%202020%20%E2%80%93%20CDC%20today,for%20last%20season%20to%20188.. What has changed since February is that a good portion of adults are now vaccinated, and community transmission rates are beginning to fall. It is reasonable to expect that rates will be significantly lower by fall, and that many high-schoolers will also have been vaccinated by then.

Please look at the real numbers and real risk of Covid in children. If you have been OK with children attending school during prior flu seasons, you should be OK with kids attending school in September.

[Anonymous]

Wow this is quite a thread with a lot of judgement on all sides. I think APS should follow the science and they largely have been this year, for which I think they deserve kudos. Hopefully by fall middle school and up will be largely vaccinated so the lack of distancing won’t put kids (and their families) at risk. If not though, I think APS should follow the science and whatever distancing the CDC is recommending for unvaccinated children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is quite a thread with a lot of judgement on all sides. I think APS should follow the science and they largely have been this year, for which I think they deserve kudos. Hopefully by fall middle school and up will be largely vaccinated so the lack of distancing won’t put kids (and their families) at risk. If not though, I think APS should follow the science and whatever distancing the CDC is recommending for unvaccinated children.

You’re in the minority.

[Anonymous]

Aha and you are a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is quite a thread with a lot of judgement on all sides. I think APS should follow the science and they largely have been this year, for which I think they deserve kudos. Hopefully by fall middle school and up will be largely vaccinated so the lack of distancing won’t put kids (and their families) at risk. If not though, I think APS should follow the science and whatever distancing the CDC is recommending for unvaccinated children.

x1000. As long as they follow the CDC guidance, while COVID will still be around, we as a community will get back to our normal. I'm excited about vaccines becoming a reality for middle and hopefully elementary children sooner rather than later.

[Anonymous]

Agreed and only 5 new cases in Arlington yesterday! https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-locality/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is quite a thread with a lot of judgement on all sides. I think APS should follow the science and they largely have been this year, for which I think they deserve kudos. Hopefully by fall middle school and up will be largely vaccinated so the lack of distancing won’t put kids (and their families) at risk. If not though, I think APS should follow the science and whatever distancing the CDC is recommending for unvaccinated children.

x1000. As long as they follow the CDC guidance, while COVID will still be around, we as a community will get back to our normal. I'm excited about vaccines becoming a reality for middle and hopefully elementary children sooner rather than later.

but that's the problem here. They have announced that they are NOT going to follow CDC guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed and only 5 new cases in Arlington yesterday! https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-locality/

Woot!

Will we be down to yellow this week??!?!

https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/aps-covid-19-dashboard/

[Anonymous]

for MS and HS--vaccines are coming and I am AOK with whatever APS decides!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe ok in the classroom, but not good at all for lunch and buses.

Why? 3ft vs 6ft vs 60ft indoors make no difference. If kids are eating 6ft apart, it’s not like the air won’t go across the room.

By fall, rates will be much lower. I am not even a tiny bit worried.

Distancing doesn’t matter for the hours and hours in enclosed rooms with lame masks.

+1 I am very worried that this is a death sentence for many because of the duration and proximity.

Ok drama queen. Bring it down a notch.

You can always keep your kids home for a robust DL education

She is absolutely right. Unvaccinated kids who are not socially distanced in closed rooms for 7 hours a day is a recipe for disaster. Kids are going to get sick and kids will die. Come back here when that is happening and try calling me a drama queen, too. Just because you're willfully ignorant doesn't mean the rest of us are as well.

According to this Washington Post article published in Feb, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2021/covid-children-deaths/, 271 children died of Covid out of 3 million reported cases. The 2019-2020 flu season reported 188 pediatric deaths from influenza, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/2019-20-pediatric-flu-deaths.htm#:~:text=LinkedIn-,2019%2D20%20Season's%20Pediatric%20Flu%20Deaths%20Tie%20High,Set%20During%202017%2D18%20Season&text=August%2021%2C%202020%20%E2%80%93%20CDC%20today,for%20last%20season%20to%20188.. What has changed since February is that a good portion of adults are now vaccinated, and community transmission rates are beginning to fall. It is reasonable to expect that rates will be significantly lower by fall, and that many high-schoolers will also have been vaccinated by then.

Please look at the real numbers and real risk of Covid in children. If you have been OK with children attending school during prior flu seasons, you should be OK with kids attending school in September.

You do understand that one big difference between the flu and Covid is that there is a vaccine for the flu, right? Because it sounds like you're saying that if I'm ok with giving my child the flu vaccine and sending my child to school during flu seasons, I should be ok with my child (who has NOT had the COVID vaccine) going to school this fall during a Covid pandemic? That is so illogical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed and only 5 new cases in Arlington yesterday! https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-locality/

Woot!

Will we be down to yellow this week??!?!

https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/aps-covid-19-dashboard/

It seems silly. Just 5 cases. Does that even warrant a color at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed and only 5 new cases in Arlington yesterday! https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus/covid-19-in-virginia-locality/

Woot!

Will we be down to yellow this week??!?!

https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2020-21/aps-covid-19-dashboard/

It seems silly. Just 5 cases. Does that even warrant a color at all?

5 cases and we are in quarantine because of one of them lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
According to this Washington Post article published in Feb, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2021/covid-children-deaths/, 271 children died of Covid out of 3 million reported cases. The 2019-2020 flu season reported 188 pediatric deaths from influenza, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2019-2020/2019-20-pediatric-flu-deaths.htm#:~:text=LinkedIn-,2019%2D20%20Season's%20Pediatric%20Flu%20Deaths%20Tie%20High,Set%20During%202017%2D18%20Season&text=August%2021%2C%202020%20%E2%80%93%20CDC%20today,for%20last%20season%20to%20188.. What has changed since February is that a good portion of adults are now vaccinated, and community transmission rates are beginning to fall. It is reasonable to expect that rates will be significantly lower by fall, and that many high-schoolers will also have been vaccinated by then.

Please look at the real numbers and real risk of Covid in children. If you have been OK with children attending school during prior flu seasons, you should be OK with kids attending school in September.

You do understand that one big difference between the flu and Covid is that there is a vaccine for the flu, right? Because it sounds like you're saying that if I'm ok with giving my child the flu vaccine and sending my child to school during flu seasons, I should be ok with my child (who has NOT had the COVID vaccine) going to school this fall during a Covid pandemic? That is so illogical.

Only ~50% of children get the flu vaccine in any given year. By fall, the Covid vaccine will have been made available to everyone over the age of 12. If you are still uncomfortable sending your kids to school, then by all means take a distance learning option. I am willing to take the small risk to give my kids the opportunity to have a normal school experience, which by fall they will not have had for 18 months.