CDC Director: schools among the safest places for children during COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON DC -- While addressing reporters toward the end of November at the White House, the director of the CDC Dr. Robert Redfield discussed the reality that after months of collecting data regarding the spread of COVID, transmission from person to person occurs in large part at small intimate gatherings between family and friends, rather than schools or the greater public square. Director Redfield went on to state that some of the most safest places for children to be during this Global Pandemic, is within the school itself. "There is extensive data that confirms K-12 schools can operate with face-to-face learning and they can do it safely and they can do it responsibly," stated Dr. Redfield. Additionally, advocates for keeping schools open such as Benjamin Linas (MD and MDH), has stated that you can only do so if you have the virus under control in your community.

Director Redfield elaborated on the reality that we are not defenseless against COVID-19: "Masks work. Social Distancing works. Hand-washing works. Being smart about crowds, particularly indoors, works. The strategic use of testing to identify the silent epidemic and asymptomatic infections so they can be pulled out of the transmission cycle, works." In one of his daily news brief, Governor of the State of New York, Andrew Cuomo, shared similar words to that of Director Redfield: "As parents know, schools are usually places where illnesses spread easily. But in the case of COVID-19, the safest place in the community is truly the school. That’s because schools follow basic rules. The students and teachers wear masks. They practice social distancing. They frequently wash their hands. Many of the students are serious about doing their part to keep their friends and families safe. They should be an example to us all. Too many adults have not heeded their education, ignoring the experts and acting without regard for the consequences of their actions by hosting large gatherings or failing to use the most effective tool at our disposal right now: a face covering."

In a published article by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), researches concluded from the data collected thus far:

1. The virus spreads in schools — but schools are rarely superspreaders

2. School outbreaks typically come from the community — not vice versa

3. Children transmit the virus — but not as often as adults do

4. Schools thirst for trusted advice — and largely accept it

To view the article by the AAMC, visit: https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/kids-school-and-covid-19-what-we-know-and-what-we-don-t