What happens with positive tests? Let’s predict the fall for elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

Another thread on quarantines and the new guidance: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/993086.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is right. Some parents are thrilled that being in close contact with a positive child wearing an old navy mask below his nose will not result in quarantines. It certainly does make life easier for DCPS.

The "close contact" part has little to do with distance and lots to do with shared air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's by no means a given that the FDA will approve the vaccine for the under 12 set. I certainly hope they do but it hasn't been decided yet. There is actually research being conducted---they're not just currently rubber stamping forms during this waiting period. I used to work in pediatric vaccine safety research and many of my former colleagues are skeptical that this will be approved.

We can't be waiting on the pediatric vaccine to save us because it may ever come.

Are there adverse events being reported?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I expect my kid to be in person, five days a week, for the entire school year.

HAHAHA. Aww, you’re cute.

This is a reasonable assumption for a vaccinated kid.

I'm impressed by the number of people on this thread that are waking up and realizing they don't know the new OSSE guidance, how masks factor in to "close contacts", and how vaccination factors into quarantine.

Yeah I think it’s just one dude who wrote most of the first several posts because he hasn’t been paying any attention.

Notice yes I do say dude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The two factors that are unclear here, at least to me, are (1) when will the CDC change its close contact definition for elementary kids, and (2) when will the vaccine be approved for 5-12?

For (1), I think it depends on how many kids end up in ICUs or die in Florida and Texas and Alabama and Louisiana. We should have some info on that in a few weeks. If we are lucky, very few kids will have severe consequences from delta. But I do t think we know yet.

For vaccine approval, even if approved Oct 1, it will take a few weeks to get all kids their first dose and another 5-6 weeks after that for full immunity. So earliest we don’t have widespread vaccination till December.

I agree with you to a point. None of these southern schools returning in early august seem to have have mask requirements. And the CDC and everyone else is so focused on those groups and getting them to wear masks (which is a good first step) that I think we will be operating under the “mask mandates are enough” fallacy for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is right. Some parents are thrilled that being in close contact with a positive child wearing an old navy mask below his nose will not result in quarantines. It certainly does make life easier for DCPS.

The "close contact" part has little to do with distance and lots to do with shared air.

Eh. The CDC sees things differently than the virus does. That’s all that matters for the never-quarantiners.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that masks and other mitigation measures also work against Delta, hence the CDC protocol. In my experience (three kids at school the last year), the kids were good about wearing their masks. Lunch is certainly a loophole. Our school has announced lunch outside, which is completely logical to me and is insisting on well-fitting masks. DC ought to mandate use of the health passport for non essential indoor venues, such as bars and restaurants as has effectively brought the situation under control in European countries. Cases are soaring here, and this will certainly impact the school environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I expect my kid to be in person, five days a week, for the entire school year.

HAHAHA. Aww, you’re cute.

Yeah, KIPP, who started last Thursday, has already started with the classroom closures.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Are there any stories from not the South or other states with low vaccination rates and no mask mandates?

It seems like there are at least a few major parameters that are different in the DMV compared to the places that are experiencing a lot of quarantines, that would be pertinent.

[Anonymous]

Ok, actual prediction here.

I think that like school reopening in the spring, there are going to be massive disparities between schools in terms of cases, quarantines, and this indoor instruction.

Schools in NW, on the Hill, and sought-after charters will largely weather this ok. There will be cases and quarantined. However, if you have friends and family in places that opened schools last year but followed mitigation measures (do talking Colorado, not Florida or Texas here), you know it was a pain but also okay. Yes, sometimes kids have to stay home. But they are in school more than not. No kids got seriously ill. You guys will be fine.

Those of us in schools where most families must work in person, where kids are much more likely to live in multi-family housing, and where families don’t have the same access to quality healthcare? I expect rolling quarantined and limited in person instruction.

Just like last year, and always, rich white families will be fine while complaining the loudest. The rest of us will struggle but what we want/need will get drowned out by the rich white patents arguing with each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, actual prediction here.

I think that like school reopening in the spring, there are going to be massive disparities between schools in terms of cases, quarantines, and this indoor instruction.

Schools in NW, on the Hill, and sought-after charters will largely weather this ok. There will be cases and quarantined. However, if you have friends and family in places that opened schools last year but followed mitigation measures (do talking Colorado, not Florida or Texas here), you know it was a pain but also okay. Yes, sometimes kids have to stay home. But they are in school more than not. No kids got seriously ill. You guys will be fine.

Those of us in schools where most families must work in person, where kids are much more likely to live in multi-family housing, and where families don’t have the same access to quality healthcare? I expect rolling quarantined and limited in person instruction.

Just like last year, and always, rich white families will be fine while complaining the loudest. The rest of us will struggle but what we want/need will get drowned out by the rich white patents arguing with each other.

The rich white families and their 12+ kids are vaccinated. The poor black families are not. That is your problem.
I work with families in SE and we are literally begging people to get the shot. I am taking people who agree to CVS in my own car. We have very, very few takers. People have very excuse in the book. If there is a massive disparity in schooling this year, this is why. Actions have consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, actual prediction here.

I think that like school reopening in the spring, there are going to be massive disparities between schools in terms of cases, quarantines, and this indoor instruction.

Schools in NW, on the Hill, and sought-after charters will largely weather this ok. There will be cases and quarantined. However, if you have friends and family in places that opened schools last year but followed mitigation measures (do talking Colorado, not Florida or Texas here), you know it was a pain but also okay. Yes, sometimes kids have to stay home. But they are in school more than not. No kids got seriously ill. You guys will be fine.

Those of us in schools where most families must work in person, where kids are much more likely to live in multi-family housing, and where families don’t have the same access to quality healthcare? I expect rolling quarantined and limited in person instruction.

Just like last year, and always, rich white families will be fine while complaining the loudest. The rest of us will struggle but what we want/need will get drowned out by the rich white patents arguing with each other.

This makes sense to me except all signs are pointing to no quarantines in DCPS this year. And unlike schools in the south our teachers will be vaxed so they won’t be out sick as much. So the problem won’t be kids out of school due to quarantines. The problem will be rampant covid spread in elementary schools at least. Even when most parents are vaccinated this doesn’t help once a case enters a school where the vast majority if its occupants is too young to be vaccinated. I agree it will hit the lower income schools first. But I don’t think that the NW schools will be too far behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any stories from not the South or other states with low vaccination rates and no mask mandates?

It seems like there are at least a few major parameters that are different in the DMV compared to the places that are experiencing a lot of quarantines, that would be pertinent.

So states with good vaccination rates have more cases than states with low vaccination rates.

But the difference would shrink were you to look at case rates vs. unvaccinated population.

Point being, current vaccination rates don't provide herd immunity; they just protect the vaccinated.

Our unvaccinated population — including all elementary students — is just as vulnerable as the unvaccinated anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, actual prediction here.

I think that like school reopening in the spring, there are going to be massive disparities between schools in terms of cases, quarantines, and this indoor instruction.

Schools in NW, on the Hill, and sought-after charters will largely weather this ok. There will be cases and quarantined. However, if you have friends and family in places that opened schools last year but followed mitigation measures (do talking Colorado, not Florida or Texas here), you know it was a pain but also okay. Yes, sometimes kids have to stay home. But they are in school more than not. No kids got seriously ill. You guys will be fine.

Those of us in schools where most families must work in person, where kids are much more likely to live in multi-family housing, and where families don’t have the same access to quality healthcare? I expect rolling quarantined and limited in person instruction.

Just like last year, and always, rich white families will be fine while complaining the loudest. The rest of us will struggle but what we want/need will get drowned out by the rich white patents arguing with each other.

The rich white families and their 12+ kids are vaccinated. The poor black families are not. That is your problem.
I work with families in SE and we are literally begging people to get the shot. I am taking people who agree to CVS in my own car. We have very, very few takers. People have very excuse in the book. If there is a massive disparity in schooling this year, this is why. Actions have consequences.

I agree with this. I work for the DC government and have had SO MANY conversations about how it’s “different” for people “in my community.” Everyone who wants the vaccine can get the vaccine, it’s a question of wanting to. And at some point people need to just do it or face the consequences of their actions. Whether they’re in Louisiana or Ward 8, it’s the same deal at this point.