Here is why we should close schools now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I have been wondering about this. I haven't scene one shred of evidence that closing schools will slow spread. Just because Italy is doing that, doesn't mean it works. Where's the science on this?

China
Singapore
Hong Kong
Taiwan (just reopened)
Japan
Italy
Iran
UAE
Saudi Arabia

so far... might have missed some

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17684187

Nonpharmaceutical interventions implemented by US cities during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic.

RESULTS:
There were 115,340 excess pneumonia and influenza deaths (EDR, 500/100,000 population) in the 43 cities during the 24 weeks analyzed. Every city adopted at least 1 of the 3 major categories of nonpharmaceutical interventions. School closure and public gathering bans activated concurrently represented the most common combination implemented in 34 cities (79%); this combination had a median duration of 4 weeks (range, 1-10 weeks) and was significantly associated with reductions in weekly EDR. The cities that implemented nonpharmaceutical interventions earlier had greater delays in reaching peak mortality (Spearman r = -0.74, P < .001), lower peak mortality rates (Spearman r = 0.31, P = .02), and lower total mortality (Spearman r = 0.37, P = .008). There was a statistically significant association between increased duration of nonpharmaceutical interventions and a reduced total mortality burden (Spearman r = -0.39, P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS:
These findings demonstrate a strong association between early, sustained, and layered application of nonpharmaceutical interventions and mitigating the consequences of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in the United States. In planning for future severe influenza pandemics, nonpharmaceutical interventions should be considered for inclusion as companion measures to developing effective vaccines and medications for prophylaxis and treatment.

links to other studies here

https://www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/tools-resources/published-research.html

The Palestine Authority also closed all schools and universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of the posters advocating for "close the schools" work in an industry where they can not telework?
Retail, police, fire fighters, doctors, construction workers, federal jobs with security clearances, etc?
Are you really able to just completely forgo all income for the indefinite future?

Okay.... so here is a new thought,

Let all other kids go. Why to kerp kids at school if their parents can telework? And want to keep kids and families protected.

So the kids can learn! Isn't that what school is for?

My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

Yes, learning, noble cause but survival of the family first.

[Anonymous]

Question for people who don't want to close schools early:

Do you agree that at some point schools will have to close? I mean, you are able to look at the news and see what is happening in hot spots. You see that in an outbreak, hospitals are overwhelmed, cities are shutting down, things are closing to control spread, towns and cities are getting cordoned off, and schools are closing.

Is it your thinking that that just isn't going to happen at all where you live? You think all of Japan shut schools; Italy shut schools... but we here in the US will be different?

If so, what is it about the US or your state that you think the virus won't affect us the same way?

How is your state or county handling things that make you believe that things just won't be like that here?

[Anonymous]

Interesting article on this topic from NY Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opinion/coronavirus-schools-closed.html?fbclid=IwAR37u9Zh_Muo5xl7R2AkGi4FEg0Fb8ZAtG2H4rnfw5fB6DuYn5HrQg0yNm8

[Anonymous]

Current policy of the Seattle Public Schools:

Seattle Public Schools is excusing all health-related absences

We want to reiterate that families know what is best for their children and we will honor your decision to keep your child home from school. Some children and family members may be at higher risk for severe illness because of underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system. We are asking parents to make the best decision for their families. Currently, Seattle Public Schools is excusing all health-related absences, including COVID-19. Your child does not need to present symptoms to receive an excused absence. Please let your child’s school know if you will be keeping them home.

Make sure your emergency contact list is up to date

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of the posters advocating for "close the schools" work in an industry where they can not telework?
Retail, police, fire fighters, doctors, construction workers, federal jobs with security clearances, etc?
Are you really able to just completely forgo all income for the indefinite future?

With people out of work temporarily, there will be more people available for child care in the home.

These are solvable problems.

[Anonymous]

My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

I am sorry, you clesrly don’t value the lives of other kids parents and you expect empathy for your kids inconvenience? Let them hit ,Khan academy for allI care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

.

PP What raised you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

But... if your child is in a car accident and needs emergency care, you expect that care will be available for him right?

If you fall and get a concussion, you want to be treated?

Is there some reason you think that health care services for YOU and YOUR KIDS won't be affected by an out of control outbreak?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current policy of the Seattle Public Schools:

Seattle Public Schools is excusing all health-related absences

We want to reiterate that families know what is best for their children and we will honor your decision to keep your child home from school. Some children and family members may be at higher risk for severe illness because of underlying health conditions or a weakened immune system. We are asking parents to make the best decision for their families. Currently, Seattle Public Schools is excusing all health-related absences, including COVID-19. Your child does not need to present symptoms to receive an excused absence. Please let your child’s school know if you will be keeping them home.

Make sure your emergency contact list is up to date

BRAVO,!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

But... if your child is in a car accident and needs emergency care, you expect that care will be available for him right?

If you fall and get a concussion, you want to be treated?

Is there some reason you think that health care services for YOU and YOUR KIDS won't be affected by an out of control outbreak?

You are wasting a digital ink on someone without heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for people who don't want to close schools early:

Do you agree that at some point schools will have to close? I mean, you are able to look at the news and see what is happening in hot spots. You see that in an outbreak, hospitals are overwhelmed, cities are shutting down, things are closing to control spread, towns and cities are getting cordoned off, and schools are closing.

Is it your thinking that that just isn't going to happen at all where you live? You think all of Japan shut schools; Italy shut schools... but we here in the US will be different?

If so, what is it about the US or your state that you think the virus won't affect us the same way?

How is your state or county handling things that make you believe that things just won't be like that here?

How about instead of schools and childcare centers shutting down (wreaking financial havoc on working parents/disrupting kids’ education due to a virus children are unlikely to get extremely sick from), we ask older people to take one for the team and quarantine themselves. People will still get sick, but this way it won’t cause our hospitals to overflow with the more severely sick older people. This seems like a better way to keep society going. If you are an older person who is still working, then we will provide some sort of financial stipend to help you miss work.

But I am not interested in losing a month+ pay because of a virus that is basically going to be a flu for me and my kids if we catch it. Not to mention hourly workers are going to be particular screwed. The young shouldn’t be taking a huge hit for the sake of the old without government assurance of no income interruption. Lord knows Medicaid will be covering a lot of the elderly’s hospital bills, so how about younger people get some assistance too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of the posters advocating for "close the schools" work in an industry where they can not telework?
Retail, police, fire fighters, doctors, construction workers, federal jobs with security clearances, etc?
Are you really able to just completely forgo all income for the indefinite future?

Okay.... so here is a new thought,

Let all other kids go. Why to kerp kids at school if their parents can telework? And want to keep kids and families protected.

So the kids can learn! Isn't that what school is for?

My kids are older (high school.) They don't need anyone to watch them at home. But I WANT them at school! They've been preparing all year for AP tests. One of my kids is graduating this year.

Most of the people who have died already had one foot at death's door to begin with. YES, I value my kid's education more than prolonging a 90 year old on a respirator's life.

Yes, learning, noble cause but survival of the family first.

Then keep 'the family" (YOUR family) home. Don't try and dictate what others should do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article on this topic from NY Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opinion/coronavirus-schools-closed.html?fbclid=IwAR37u9Zh_Muo5xl7R2AkGi4FEg0Fb8ZAtG2H4rnfw5fB6DuYn5HrQg0yNm8

Paywall, please post higlights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of the posters advocating for "close the schools" work in an industry where they can not telework?
Retail, police, fire fighters, doctors, construction workers, federal jobs with security clearances, etc?
Are you really able to just completely forgo all income for the indefinite future?

With people out of work temporarily, there will be more people available for child care in the home.

These are solvable problems.

You think people out of work because of a communicable virus spreading are going to use their time off work to provide other people with childcare so they can work??

Maybe if you’re lucky enough to have local family. But for a lot of us, no school/childcare open = no work/paycheck. Old people should just stay home so we don’t all have to shut society down to keep them from getting sick.