Fauci says schools may finally reopen after summer. Here’s how that can happen
It’s time for schools to figure out how to safely reopen this fall as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the nation’s top infectious disease expert said.
In a CNN interview Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said when and how schools reopen will vary by state and community, depending on the rate of infection.
“In some situations there will be no problem for children to go back to school,” Fauci said during the interview. “In others, you may need to do some modifications. You know, modifications could be breaking up the class so you don’t have a crowded classroom, maybe half in the morning, half in the afternoon, having children doing alternate schedules.”
He said schools have a number of options to help reduce the spread of coronavirus among students and teachers.
“Children can get infected, so yes, so you’ve got to be careful,” Fauci said. “Now, to make an extrapolation that you shouldn’t open schools, I think is a bit of a reach.”
Most children who contract COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kids also seem to be less likely than adults to get the coronavirus. Only 2% of the people who tested positive for the virus in the United States were under 18 years old, according to a CDC report looking at cases from the beginning of the pandemic through early April.
Most states closed school buildings and shifted to virtual learning during the pandemic. But schools in Montana reopened in early May, and a handful of schools in Idaho have reopened, according to Idaho Education News.
The CDC prepared a guide on how states and school districts should decide when and how to reopen buildings.
Public health officials say the virus spreads by primarily through respiratory droplets in the air, so one of the easier ways to keep the virus from spreading is to make sure people wear masks, stay at least six feet from each other, wash their hands often and sanitize surfaces.
To get kids back into the classroom, the CDC says schools should create small classes. “Groups of students stay together and with the same teacher throughout/across school days and groups do not mix. Students remain at least 6 feet apart and do not share objects (e.g., hybrid virtual and in-person class structures, or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes),” the CDC said.
The highest risk, the CDC said, would be to return to full classes in person with students not spaced apart. Shared classroom materials and students mixing between classes and activities also create a high risk.
The CDC said some of the considerations for whether to open schools include:
What will schools do to protect high-risk students and employees?
Can students and staff be screened for symptoms and possible past exposure?
Can schools continue to monitor employees and students for symptoms?
Schools need a plan for what happens if someone tests positive.
Schools will need to increase cleaning and sanitizing.
Develop practical ways for students and teachers to maintain social distancing.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
