Here is why we should close schools now.

[Anonymous]

While it is true that children can be asymptomatic carriers, they also seem to get the virus at much lower rates... that's one thing people are missing in their math. So having them spend the vast majority of their day with mostly other kids will decrease spread and help isolate kids from the elderly. It's one thing if we shut down Italy-style, but if parents continue to work, shutting schools may actually be counterproductive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said a week ago was too early to close schools, but I think now and next week is the right time. There are cases and some local transmission. It’s a good time to start closing things.

I think Fairfax and Arlington will close next week.

I thought a good time was before viruses start to spread widely, based on history and other countries' experience?

I'm not convinced it has spread widely yet. When it had spread widely in Italy, the hospitals were overwhelmed. I have not heard any reports of hospitals being overwhelmed here, and outside of nursing homes, few American fatalities. So if it is widespread, the reaction is not so bad.

So instead of wringing your hands that this should have been done weeks ago, be grateful that we are in fact catching it in time. Can't win with some of you.

You want to see the hospitals overwhelmed? Are you insane? That’s what we are trying to avoid!

The pp is not very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said a week ago was too early to close schools, but I think now and next week is the right time. There are cases and some local transmission. It’s a good time to start closing things.

I think Fairfax and Arlington will close next week.

I thought a good time was before viruses start to spread widely, based on history and other countries' experience?

I'm not convinced it has spread widely yet. When it had spread widely in Italy, the hospitals were overwhelmed. I have not heard any reports of hospitals being overwhelmed here, and outside of nursing homes, few American fatalities. So if it is widespread, the reaction is not so bad.

So instead of wringing your hands that this should have been done weeks ago, be grateful that we are in fact catching it in time. Can't win with some of you.

You want to see the hospitals overwhelmed? Are you insane? That’s what we are trying to avoid!

JFC- schools are being closed here before the hospitals are being overwhelmed, you idiot.

Although like someone else said, now instead of hanging out with other kids, many kids will be hanging out with their grandparents instead. But I guess that's what you wanted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said a week ago was too early to close schools, but I think now and next week is the right time. There are cases and some local transmission. It’s a good time to start closing things.

I think Fairfax and Arlington will close next week.

I thought a good time was before viruses start to spread widely, based on history and other countries' experience?

I’m the pp you’re responding to.

There wasn’t any evidence of community transmission in the area when this thread started. Contacts were traceable and manageable. I believe now is still better than a week ago.

[Anonymous]

All MD schools closed for two weeks. No Spring Break

Just announced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if closing schools will stop the spread of this when there is no current case in a school. Plus, when kids are out of school, who will take care of them? parents, baby sitters, elderly grandparents, and who knows who else...and those are the ones who have been expose to others much more frequently than the existing kids at school. Those other adults are the ones you don't know where they have been over the weekend when they are not with your kids. At church, at the theater, hanging out and drinking, smoking with other people.

There was a WHO expert on BBC news saying this today. He said that there doesn't seem to be that much transmission among children in schools (unlike the flu), and when kids are out of school they're hanging around older relatives or else going out places on their own, which is not always good.

I think the reason we're not seeing the transmission in kids is because it isn't affecting them so they may be carrying it but they're not showing symptoms and therefore aren't getting tested. I could be wrong, but I also think saying "kids don't get it so they can't transmit it" is dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All MD schools closed for two weeks. No Spring Break

Just announced.

Emergency message on mcps home page:

EMERGENCY MESSAGE: 3/12/2020 at 4:25 PM -- Refresh page to update message
Governor Larry Hogan and State Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon announced today (March 12) that all Maryland schools must close in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In light of this announcement, all MCPS schools will be closed starting March 16 until March 27. Additional information will be provided to the community shortly. Please visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/ to stay up-to-date on the latest information

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All MD schools closed for two weeks. No Spring Break

Just announced.

This part is NOT on the MCPS webpage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All MD schools closed for two weeks. No Spring Break

Just announced.

This part is NOT on the MCPS webpage

It was stated in the press conference that they are recommending schools use spring break to make up the days. Now they could decide to extend the time the schools are closed which would impact that.

[Anonymous]

Six weeks school closure where I am in WA state just announced.

[Anonymous]

Public schools closed in Ontario for 2 weeks after March break (next week).
There are now 59 cases in Ontario, 2 under the age of 18

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/title.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=o

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if closing schools will stop the spread of this when there is no current case in a school. Plus, when kids are out of school, who will take care of them? parents, baby sitters, elderly grandparents, and who knows who else...and those are the ones who have been expose to others much more frequently than the existing kids at school. Those other adults are the ones you don't know where they have been over the weekend when they are not with your kids. At church, at the theater, hanging out and drinking, smoking with other people.

There was a WHO expert on BBC news saying this today. He said that there doesn't seem to be that much transmission among children in schools (unlike the flu), and when kids are out of school they're hanging around older relatives or else going out places on their own, which is not always good.

I think the reason we're not seeing the transmission in kids is because it isn't affecting them so they may be carrying it but they're not showing symptoms and therefore aren't getting tested. I could be wrong, but I also think saying "kids don't get it so they can't transmit it" is dangerous.

You are right. Also because the test is limited, no test prove does not mean no spread. Actually it spread faster than people can realize. I predict they will extend the break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there 37 different threads on DCUM right now about closing schools, but very few dedicated to shutting down other businesses/workplaces? Yes, kids can be vectors and contribute to the spread of disease. You know who else can spread it, and die from it at alarmingly higher numbers--adults! Adults who are still riding the metro and going to their workplaces in very high numbers. Sure, some people are working from home, but the vast majority of working adults in this region are still reporting daily to an office.

So why is so much of the vitriol singularly dedicated to the topic of closing just schools?

+1
My workplace is next to 2345 Crystal Dr. They emailed us that they are monitoring the situation but that no changes are needed at this time. What the ...! We had a confirmed case person visit the building next door on 3/5, spread it to the people there, who in turn spread it further, before we all learned only on 3/10 about the person who visited was infected. I don't know what my workplace is dragging their feet for, as the vast majority of us are telework ready, equipped with VPN ready laptops and all, as we have been teleworking part of the week for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Six weeks school closure where I am in WA state just announced.

Six weeks? If that becomes the new reality in this area, gosh...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said a week ago was too early to close schools, but I think now and next week is the right time. There are cases and some local transmission. It’s a good time to start closing things.

I think Fairfax and Arlington will close next week.

I thought a good time was before viruses start to spread widely, based on history and other countries' experience?

I'm not convinced it has spread widely yet. When it had spread widely in Italy, the hospitals were overwhelmed. I have not heard any reports of hospitals being overwhelmed here, and outside of nursing homes, few American fatalities. So if it is widespread, the reaction is not so bad.

So instead of wringing your hands that this should have been done weeks ago, be grateful that we are in fact catching it in time. Can't win with some of you.

You want to see the hospitals overwhelmed? Are you insane? That’s what we are trying to avoid!

JFC- schools are being closed here before the hospitals are being overwhelmed, you idiot.

Although like someone else said, now instead of hanging out with other kids, many kids will be hanging out with their grandparents instead. But I guess that's what you wanted!

I’m the idiot? You’re the one saying “I’m not convinced it has spread widely yet”. This is an effing PANDEMIC. Do you know what that means??