COVID-19 is currently wreaking havoc across the United States. How severe is the situation? According to Your Local Epidemiologist, our most reliable metric at the moment is hospitalizations, which are impacted by delays from the holiday season in both reporting and testing. Remember when Los Angeles ran out of hospital beds in mid-December? They are now facing shortages of oxygen for COVID-19 patients. In a concerning report, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency has instructed crews not to transport patients with a low chance of survival. Makeshift hospitals have even been set up in church gyms. With a looming surge anticipated from holiday gatherings, the crisis is escalating, with one hospital supervisor labeling it “a human disaster.” In other words, this is the worst possible time to consider reopening schools.
And it’s not just Southern California that’s in trouble. The South is also grappling with a surge in COVID-19 cases. Smaller counties in Florida, such as Seminole, are reporting a complete lack of ICU capacity, according to local news. The State in South Carolina notes that several counties in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia have ICU occupancy rates at 95%, particularly around major cities. States are breaking records for daily hospitalizations. Reports from Alabama indicate that hospitals are becoming overwhelmed, and officials attribute the current situation to gatherings from Thanksgiving — and not even Christmas yet!
We are witnessing the most severe phase of COVID-19 to date. It is simply not feasible to reopen schools at this juncture.
If We Reopen Schools, We’ll Spread the Virus
With the virus surging in the community, asymptomatic students will inevitably fill classrooms. They may contract the virus from family members or peers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nearly half of all pediatric COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic. So, while a classroom of children may look healthy, many could be unknowingly spreading the virus — not only to each other but also to teachers and staff.
These individuals can then carry the virus home, where it poses a risk to more vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with existing health conditions like asthma. A study featured in the Harvard Gazette revealed that children, including those without symptoms, can carry a viral load comparable to that of ICU patients. Furthermore, research published in JAMA shows that asymptomatic children can shed the virus for weeks. If schools reopen, our unsuspecting “superspreaders” will likely be young children.
Navigating Proper Procedures
In a perfect world, we could reopen schools under ideal conditions: universal masking, social distancing, disinfection, and proper air circulation. But who is willing to ensure that a classroom of thirty-five-year-olds keeps their masks on? They can’t touch their faces without sanitizing, and they must avoid exposing their noses. While managing that, how do you ensure they stay six feet apart? Good luck with that!
Many schools already lack proper ventilation, as highlighted by the National Education Association. How can children maintain distance on a school bus, during a fire drill, or even in the bathroom? How do we manage lunchtime when they can’t wear masks and must remain more than six feet apart? Considering the current surge in COVID-19 cases, it’s impractical to reopen schools without causing a public health catastrophe.
The High School Factor
High school students and COVID-19 don’t mix well. Epidemiologists have noted that many teens hesitate to report symptoms to avoid quarantine. A positive test can lead to contact tracing, putting other students at risk of being quarantined, which may deter them from getting tested altogether. A South Korean study cited by the CDC indicates that teenagers are more likely to transmit COVID-19 than younger children or adults. Reopening schools could lead to a significant public health crisis.
Teenagers may come to school just to avoid missing out on sports games or important AP tests. As case numbers continue to rise, more teenagers will likely spread the virus, putting vulnerable populations at even greater risk and further straining our healthcare systems.
Prioritizing Our Hospitals
The current situation is dire, and it’s expected to worsen. We are still experiencing spikes related to Thanksgiving gatherings, and surges from Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are on the horizon. Newsweek reported that the weekend before Christmas saw more travelers than during Thanksgiving. If hospitals are overwhelmed now, we could soon find ourselves facing scenarios similar to Los Angeles, where paramedics are forced to deny transport to certain patients and makeshift hospitals are established.
Reopening schools would only exacerbate this looming disaster. Yes, we’re all tired of being confined at home. After nearly ten months of school closures, we long for normalcy. However, this desire cannot justify reopening schools when the situation is so precarious. We must prioritize self-isolation and resist pressure to reopen schools. This decision not only safeguards children and staff but also helps reduce the spread of the virus in our communities and lightens the load on healthcare systems.
Reopening schools while the virus is rampant would only fan the flames of this crisis.
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Summary
Reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic is a dangerous proposition. With hospitals overwhelmed and asymptomatic children potentially spreading the virus, now is not the time to risk public health for the sake of education. The current situation demands continued caution and adherence to safety protocols to protect our communities and healthcare systems.
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