Press Secretary: "Science shouldn't stand in the way of reopening schools"

[Bt1 5,213]

3 hours ago, justhislife said:

I feel like she means science actually supports opening schools, but still not really correct.

 

Just looking at the source she provided, JAMA Network, there's some contradiction with what she's saying. While children are less likely than adults to get the virus when a family member is sick, it doesn't account for the fact that a child will be surrounded by 30 other children rather than a home environment with 4 others. We also have to account for the environment of many schools, where hallways are small and hallways and classrooms can get "wet" because there isn't enough air circulating. Then there's the fact that they will likely all touch a lot of the same things such as doors, computers, etc. While keeping doors open might help with this, it poses a security risk if outside doors are kept open, and there are many other contact points to consider. Returning to a more scientific aspect, many studies from JAMA in COVID and pediatrics focus on information from China. Firstly, we can pretty much all agree that China isn't the most honest about its numbers. Secondly, these numbers are from early infection periods. Thirdly, even if China's information was 100% accurate, a large factor is obesity and China's obesity (5%-6%) is much lower than in the U.S. (39.6% in adults and 18.5% in children). Even JAMA acknowledges that antibody count in children has been found to be low after having the virus, which means that it's possible that children can get the virus multiple times. This has several implications, firstly that it's more opportunities to infect family. Secondly, every time a child contracts the virus, not only will it compromise their immune system to some extent, but there's the possibility of brain damage. And finally, there is a small chance that children who have or even had the virus, will develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which causes the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, digestive system, brain, skin, or eyes swell, causing redness and pain. 

 

I also tried to address her defending opening schools with mental health, but wasn't able to find statistics. Personally I've seen a large amount of dismissal by school systems when students show signs of mental health decline. They tend to address the issue wrongly, if at all. This is exemplified in the occurrences of school shootings in the country, it's not just a gun control issue but a mental health issue. And I find it funny that she stands on that podium speaking of mental health while her and her party systemically silence those issues and the role of gun violence in those issues.

 

Your point regarding "others are doing it" is essentially moot, because many countries that are working to contain the virus and are reopening schools are working with active cases in the 10,000's, not nearly 2,000,000. 

 

I don't understand how people are so willing to send their children back to school. They are more concerned with the economic pressures of society rather than doing everything possible to keep their child safe. If my child even had the smallest chance of contracting a virus that could get them hospitalized and ventilated in an invasive manner, have them get brain damage, develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or death because I neglected to care for them, I would think I failed my child. It just couldn't be me.

At no point in time it will be safer to go to school than staying closed in your house, at least when we are talking about covid. 

However the data we have is that the danger for people under 20 is very small. Most countries in the world used this data and reopened schools in a way or another. It's hard to understand why for US even this is a controversy.

[KindnessPunk28 1,506]

2 hours ago, Florin said:

Personal attack after personal attack and nothing to back your claims. 

As I've said the danger from school reopenings is very small. People under 20 are more likely to die from homicides or car accidents than from covid. That's what the data says, but I doubt that you care about the data when you attack me for mentioning some eaay to verify information.

Maybe try more kindness next time. It wouldn't be bad to inform yourself about what are you commenting instead of going the personal attack route. 

I'm simply questioning why you're continuing to pretend covid isnt a serious issue. There is certainly a hidden agenda here

[ssslyboy 3,273]

I don't like her, but ... I think she means nothing that the science is telling us should stand in the way of schools re-opening, meaning that the science is allowing for schools to reopen.  Countries where schools have re-opened have had no spike in cases originating from schools.  Kids aren't getting sick and they're not the spreaders.  That's what the science is showing.

[KindnessPunk28 1,506]

4 minutes ago, ssslyboy said:

I don't like her, but ... I think she means nothing that the science is telling us should stand in the way of schools re-opening, meaning that the science is allowing for schools to reopen.  Countries where schools have re-opened have had no spike in cases originating from schools.  Kids aren't getting sick and they're not the spreaders.  That's what the science is showing.

Except those countries have not mismanaged this pandemic. It's disturbing that you'd even try and rationalize what this buffon has said

 

[Webb7 438]

Is she natural blonde? 

[Bt1 5,213]

1 hour ago, KindnessPunk28 said:

I'm simply questioning why you're continuing to pretend covid isnt a serious issue. There is certainly a hidden agenda here

Who said that covid isnt a serious issue? It is.