Hunkering down: the long haul

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jimmy Kimmel had a good take on this after looking over LA guidelines for school opening. Basically jail with some geometry on a side. All the fun stuff, PE, band, theater, music, etc. will be severely constrained, so kids are left with stuff that can be done from anywhere.

For us it does not make sense to send kids back until it is back to truly normal because of a vaccine and effective treatment. In the meantime it just means that I have to deal with kids more than usual. Of course, if both of us worked, it would be different.

Assume that both parents do work, or the family has a single parent who works. Families with a stay at home parent are about 18% of the total in the U.S. We can’t make these decisions based on that minority, and the expectation that parents pick up the lion’s share of schooling AND work at the same time, as happened this past Spring, is untenable.

[Anonymous]

^^hit enter too soon:

We also can’t make these decisions solely based on what epidemiologists say. There are profound consequences to keeping kids out of school beyond exposure to COVID-19. We need social scientists, educators, etc., to have input on the decision whether or not to open schools. It’s not a unitary problem.

[Anonymous]

I think the sole focus on the opinion of epidemiologists is frankly insane. Their goal is to minimize all risk, but the assessment of reopening has to balance far more factors than just the progression the virus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the sole focus on the opinion of epidemiologists is frankly insane. Their goal is to minimize all risk, but the assessment of reopening has to balance far more factors than just the progression the virus

Yeah we’re all gonna git it.

[Anonymous]

I’m sending my kids. Our health risk is low, but their (and my) mental health risk is high. Even if it’s just 1 day a week to sit in a chair and do math sheets and talk 6’ away from each other, they will be there.

I get what they are saying, but their view is myopic. I’m a single parent, working full time, home schooling full time (my kids at a public school got a full days work every day plus zooms), and maintaining a house and trying to navigate the mental health impact of zero socializing. When you factor all that together the clear answer is - I’m sending my kids on the first day school is open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:30% of epidemiologists surveyed say that they would not personally send kids back to school until this winter, at the earliest (with half of those saying this date would be a year or more out).

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/upshot/epidemiologists-decisions-children-school-coronavirus.html

We think that if schools reopen, they are likely to do so in conditions that are either intolerable from a public health standpoint or that are so diminished/constrained that they're bad for kids' mental health (and probably adults').

We're considering what to do about this information. If you are also considering this, come on in to chat.

How many of them are working mom of young children? I don’t actually care what others think because they cant adequately weigh the costs and benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% of epidemiologists surveyed say that they would not personally send kids back to school until this winter, at the earliest (with half of those saying this date would be a year or more out).

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/upshot/epidemiologists-decisions-children-school-coronavirus.html

We think that if schools reopen, they are likely to do so in conditions that are either intolerable from a public health standpoint or that are so diminished/constrained that they're bad for kids' mental health (and probably adults').

We're considering what to do about this information. If you are also considering this, come on in to chat.

How many of them are working mom of young children? I don’t actually care what others think because they cant adequately weigh the costs and benefits.

It’s not their job to assess risk based on individual circumstances. They are simply stating the cost. We have to have all the information to make the calls for our individual circumstances.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I (geneticist and virologist) are probably not sending our tween and teen to school until we’ve been vaccinated. We are anticipating Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths to surge with each attempt to open, and hope a vaccine will be available in 2021 (Dr. Fauci predicted early 2021).

[Anonymous]

Those who can “hunker down” should. Those who can’t should take weighed and calculated risks. Daycare and school is an absolute necessity for some. Going out to lunch or getting your hair colored is not a necessity. Play dates are not a necessity.

We are very lucky that we have a nanny, a former elementary school teacher, who lives alone and is dedicated to very strict social distancing and isolation. And DH and I can both work from home and follow the same strict protocols. People like us can diminish the curve of infection by staying home for the long haul. But everyone can make sacrifices to lessen the spread until there is a vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) I think it should be both in class and online. All classroom lectures should be broadcasted. Those who need the school for daycare, free lunch, counseling and extra curricular reasons can be at school the rest can attend from home. This will reduce the number of people in the classroom making social distancing possible as well as keeping number of students down.

2) HVAC should have UV lights so that germs don't get circulated from the ventilation system.

3) Think about putting a Dyson air purifier, humidifier and fan in the room too.

I already have a fan since the a/c never seems to work. Last year I bought a dehumidifier since the humidity levels in our school are so high that the walls and floors are slick with moisture. I’m sure these are just more things they will expect teachers to buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My husband and I (geneticist and virologist) are probably not sending our tween and teen to school until we’ve been vaccinated. We are anticipating Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths to surge with each attempt to open, and hope a vaccine will be available in 2021 (Dr. Fauci predicted early 2021).

Same for us with a 7 yr old and two year old. I’m in public health and can luckily work from home. DH is in a field where he can work from home as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those who can “hunker down” should. Those who can’t should take weighed and calculated risks. Daycare and school is an absolute necessity for some. Going out to lunch or getting your hair colored is not a necessity. Play dates are not a necessity.

We are very lucky that we have a nanny, a former elementary school teacher, who lives alone and is dedicated to very strict social distancing and isolation. And DH and I can both work from home and follow the same strict protocols. People like us can diminish the curve of infection by staying home for the long haul. But everyone can make sacrifices to lessen the spread until there is a vaccine.

+1. We all need to get to a place where we do everything we can for the greater good. Those who can keep their children home and stay home themselves should. Those you can’t shouldn’t be judged. But we all must continue to make sacrifices. And wear masks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30% of epidemiologists surveyed say that they would not personally send kids back to school until this winter, at the earliest (with half of those saying this date would be a year or more out).

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/upshot/epidemiologists-decisions-children-school-coronavirus.html

We think that if schools reopen, they are likely to do so in conditions that are either intolerable from a public health standpoint or that are so diminished/constrained that they're bad for kids' mental health (and probably adults').

We're considering what to do about this information. If you are also considering this, come on in to chat.

How many of them are working mom of young children? I don’t actually care what others think because they cant adequately weigh the costs and benefits.

It’s not their job to assess risk based on individual circumstances. They are simply stating the cost. We have to have all the information to make the calls for our individual circumstances.

DP, but they are only stating the cost as it relates to the virus. They’re not looking at the havoc wrought by extreme mitigation efforts. Yeah, I know that’s not their job, but it has to be someone’s job.

If people have the means to keep their kids home comfortably, great. If everyone is chronically stressed, that needs to factor into decision making. It’s not solely about COVID-19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My husband and I (geneticist and virologist) are probably not sending our tween and teen to school until we’ve been vaccinated. We are anticipating Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths to surge with each attempt to open, and hope a vaccine will be available in 2021 (Dr. Fauci predicted early 2021).

What's your definition of a "surge"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My husband and I (geneticist and virologist) are probably not sending our tween and teen to school until we’ve been vaccinated. We are anticipating Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths to surge with each attempt to open, and hope a vaccine will be available in 2021 (Dr. Fauci predicted early 2021).

Are you otherwise continuing to live in “stay at home” rules or have you shifted on any of that?