CDC Finds Schools Should Be Able To Open With Precautions, But Not Everyone Agrees

A large number of children around the country haven’t stepped foot in a classroom since last March, 10 months ago.  But now the CDC is saying schools can reopen safely. They are citing a new study in the medical journal Jama that finds:

Accumulating data now suggest a path forward to maintain or return primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery. Actions include taking steps to reduce community transmission and limiting school-related activities such as indoor sports practice or competition that could increase transmission risk.

The Wall Street Journal writes:

The CDC had encouraged U.S. schools to reopen for in-person learning as early as July, though there was concern that they did so under political pressure. More recently, studies have increasingly suggested that viral transmission in K-12 schools is relatively low when mitigation measures are followed, while school closures have had a detrimental effect on students.

It’s important to note that new White House chief of staff Ron Klain is downplaying the information from JAMA, saying it was a small study that looked at schools with just 11 or 12 people in a classroom. That’s unrealistic at most large, public schools.

And teachers’ unions are also weighing in, with many members in cities like Chicago saying it’s too soon to return to in-person learning.  NPR writes: “On Tuesday, the Chicago Teachers Union and CPS failed to reach a deal on school reopening, triggering plans for 14,000 school staff to refuse to report to schools on Wednesday, and opening the door for a strike. In Montclair, N.J., an affluent New York City suburb, teachers also refused to come to work, leading the district to abandon its opening plans set for this past Monday. And Washington, D.C., appears headed for a similar showdown over a Feb. 1 opening date. In all three places, this is only the latest in a series of torn-up reopening plans.

One thing that would help ease concerns at schools is prioritizing vaccinations for teachers. While some states are offering teachers vaccines, most are not. The Washington Post reports:

Part of the problem is the chaotic logistics of vaccine distribution as the pandemic rages on. Not all teachers can get the shots right away, and even for those who do, the process takes time: Vaccines must be delivered in twin doses almost a month apart. Even in the best case, most educators will not be fully vaccinated until late February at earliest.

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