CDC planning to release new guidance on how K-12 students can physically return to classroom. 7/6/20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

You are coming from the outside the jurisdiction and want to convince this jurisdiction to change their plans, so you can have full-time school for your kid? Do you see yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

You are coming from the outside the jurisdiction and want to convince this jurisdiction to change their plans, so you can have full-time school for your kid? Do you see yourself?

That's silly, PP. Nobody is asking the school district to have school just for their own kid. If they were, there would be no problem with distancing, etc. They want the school district to have school, or the option of school, for all of the kids in the school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

You are coming from the outside the jurisdiction and want to convince this jurisdiction to change their plans, so you can have full-time school for your kid? Do you see yourself?

They haven't made their plans yet. I'm trying to help them, and yes I will admit my goal is for them to have the information that may help them decide in favor of in-person schooling. Being a smaller district, they don't have the resources in terms of staff compared to MCPS. They're probably busy with a million other things as well, and may not have the staff dedicated to following the latest guidance from CDC, AAP, etc as closely. I'd like to provide that to them.

I'm still amazed they actually write back to me. I'd never expect Jack Smith at MCPS to write back to any emails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

To my knowledge (happy to be corrected if wrong), the CDC has not updated its guidance w/r/t school reopening since April and May. They did release FAQs on June 3rd. 6 feet was still recommended. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools-faq.html

The AAP released its recommendation that policy considerations start with the goal of sending children to school in-person. It has this comment re: distancing: "Desks should be placed 3 to 6 feet apart when feasible" and "Universal face coverings in middle and high schools when not able to maintain a 6-foot distance (students and adults)." https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

Thanks, this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

You are coming from the outside the jurisdiction and want to convince this jurisdiction to change their plans, so you can have full-time school for your kid? Do you see yourself?

They haven't made their plans yet. I'm trying to help them, and yes I will admit my goal is for them to have the information that may help them decide in favor of in-person schooling. Being a smaller district, they don't have the resources in terms of staff compared to MCPS. They're probably busy with a million other things as well, and may not have the staff dedicated to following the latest guidance from CDC, AAP, etc as closely. I'd like to provide that to them.

I'm still amazed they actually write back to me. I'd never expect Jack Smith at MCPS to write back to any emails.

Since their plans are not set, you have a good chance of them opening full-time if conditions continue to improve. They might be in a different phase of opening when school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

You are coming from the outside the jurisdiction and want to convince this jurisdiction to change their plans, so you can have full-time school for your kid? Do you see yourself?

They haven't made their plans yet. I'm trying to help them, and yes I will admit my goal is for them to have the information that may help them decide in favor of in-person schooling. Being a smaller district, they don't have the resources in terms of staff compared to MCPS. They're probably busy with a million other things as well, and may not have the staff dedicated to following the latest guidance from CDC, AAP, etc as closely. I'd like to provide that to them.

I'm still amazed they actually write back to me. I'd never expect Jack Smith at MCPS to write back to any emails.

Since their plans are not set, you have a good chance of them opening full-time if conditions continue to improve. They might be in a different phase of opening when school starts.

Perhaps but the data shows conditions are worsening even in this region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps but the data shows conditions are worsening even in this region.

Which data, specifically, show that conditions are worsening in Maryland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps but the data shows conditions are worsening even in this region.

Which data, specifically, show that conditions are worsening in Maryland?

NP. The R0 rate has been slowly creeping up again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps but the data shows conditions are worsening even in this region.

Which data, specifically, show that conditions are worsening in Maryland?

NP. The R0 rate has been slowly creeping up again.

What is the source of your information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps but the data shows conditions are worsening even in this region.

Which data, specifically, show that conditions are worsening in Maryland?

NP. The R0 rate has been slowly creeping up again.

What is the source of your information?

Everyone state and jurisdiction posts the numbers. Do the research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone state and jurisdiction posts the numbers. Do the research.

The eight benchmarks that have been met or shown “substantial progress” include:

● Number of new COVID-19 related deaths: 1 (three-day average); 13 declining days
● COVID-19 related hospitalizations: 113 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● COVID-19 related intensive care unit hospitalizations: 40 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Acute care bed utilization rate: 64% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● ICU bed utilization rate: 49% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 80% or less has been met for 14 days
● Percentage of ventilators in use: 31% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● Test positivity: 5% (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Test administered: 1,716 (three-day average); the county is reporting that it has 4.3% testing capacity in the last 30 days; the county’s goal is 5%

The two benchmarks that haven’t been met are:
● Number of new confirmed cases: 83 (three-day average); eight declining days
● Number of COVID-19 related emergency room patients: 5 (three-day average); 10 declining days.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/after-one-day-jump-montgomery-county-covid-19-case-increase-again-below-1/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Everyone state and jurisdiction posts the numbers. Do the research.

The eight benchmarks that have been met or shown “substantial progress” include:

● Number of new COVID-19 related deaths: 1 (three-day average); 13 declining days
● COVID-19 related hospitalizations: 113 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● COVID-19 related intensive care unit hospitalizations: 40 (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Acute care bed utilization rate: 64% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● ICU bed utilization rate: 49% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 80% or less has been met for 14 days
● Percentage of ventilators in use: 31% (three-day average); the county’s goal of 70% or less has been met for 14 days
● Test positivity: 5% (three-day average); 14 declining days
● Test administered: 1,716 (three-day average); the county is reporting that it has 4.3% testing capacity in the last 30 days; the county’s goal is 5%

The two benchmarks that haven’t been met are:
● Number of new confirmed cases: 83 (three-day average); eight declining days
● Number of COVID-19 related emergency room patients: 5 (three-day average); 10 declining days.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/after-one-day-jump-montgomery-county-covid-19-case-increase-again-below-1/

The problem is its increasing in other states and people have been traveling so they will bring it back here. Many ICU beds in some states are completely full. Is that a risk you want to take? I don't. We should have stayed quarantined for the summer.

[Anonymous]

We cannot trust the CDC guidelines as Trump had them altered to meet his viewpoint to make his voters happy vs. care about safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The problem is its increasing in other states and people have been traveling so they will bring it back here. Many ICU beds in some states are completely full. Is that a risk you want to take? I don't. We should have stayed quarantined for the summer.

We're back to the "we have to close everything in Montgomery County because infected people might travel to Montgomery County from Houston" argument.

[Anonymous]

WaPo: CDC will issue new guidelines on school openings, Pence says, after criticism from Trump

The guidelines with the science are too inconvenient and annoying, so we'll just pull it out of our butts to placate President Idiot. Why are we relying on the CDC like gospel again? They've been ruined by politics like everything else. I don't see why I should believe anything they say is actually based on evidence and will keep us safe. I'm sick of being gaslighted.