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

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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't think you can really trust any guidance put out by this administration. They'll just write whatever they think will help the orange's re-election chances in spite of what any public health expert believes.[/quote]

Do you think the AAP is in cahoots with Trump's campaign as well?[/quote]

The AAP simply recognized that it is in the best interest of children to return to F2F school. Everyone agrees with that.

The AAP believes that risks associated with COVID are less that the negative consequences of having no in person school at all. So they urge policy makers to try to make in person learning work. Even so, they recommend recommend putting safety measures in place. These include social distancing and masking. For instance, the report states that:  "“Evidence suggests that spacing as close as 3 feet may approach the benefits of 6 feet of space, particularly if students are wearing face coverings and are asymptomatic.” Having read other studies, I disagree with the first part of the statement, but concur that studies show reduced risk with 3 feet of social distancing and masks.  At this point, though, we have people saying that their kids can't or won't wear mask. Studies show that reducing social distancing to 3 feet is far less effective in mitigating the spread of the virus than 6 feet. And by the way, for all of you "we aren't supposed to eliminate risk" people, even 6 feet of social distancing does not eliminate risk.

The guidance also recommends use of outdoor spaces, which may or not work, depending on the weather, and assigning students to particular cohorts for lunch and busing. In addition, the guidance recommends having teachers change classes, rather than students. That works well with younger kids, but  not as well with high school aged students. The AAP recommendations are a great start and would work especially well for younger students that can be more easily kept in the same group throughout the day. The more we are able to minimize the number of different people any one individual comes into close contact with, the greater the likelihood that schools can remain open and that contact tracing can be effective if there are any positives.

Also, AAP acknowledges that we do not fully understand the risk of transmission in and by children.  Some of the evidence being cited to show there is little risk (like Norway) does not recognize the extent of mitigation measures put in place, including not offering transportation.

By the way, the WHO does not recommend only 3 feet of social distancing, but has recognized a benefit that much distance when greater distancing is not possible. As a parent, if you are not ok with only 3 feet of distancing and required masking, then it is unlikely you will be satisfied with any plan.

Sadly, at our over crowded public high school, I think that even with relaxed standards, some sort of A/B day will have to be implemented. There is only so much room in the hallways, and I have no idea how you could create a schedule (even with only half of the kids at school each day) to keep the hallways uncrowded. Our school uses many portables to accommodate its student population, but the doorways and number of bathrooms is the same as if the school weren't overcrowded.

PS - I have a HS senior whose year is likely to  be ruined. I also have two varsity athletes who live for their fall sports. They will be disappointed by their lives will not be ruined. 
I were in charge, I would prioritize getting younger kids in school as much as possible with as many mitigation measures as we can afford. Then figure out some regionally based system to group high school students and get them to school 1 or 2 days per week.

[/quote]

Thank you for the thoughtful read of the AAP recommendations and your own family anecdote. Sorry your kids won’t get to play this year. Sorry for all our kids. [/quote]

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