Kids can catch COVID-19, can pass it on to others, can get seriously ill, and can definitely die

[Nevilledog]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/7/23/1963133/-Reopening-the-schools-is-an-invitation-to-create-a-wholly-unnecessary-national-tragedy

In his latest appearance on Fox News, Donald Trump declared that he thought testing for COVID-19 was “overrated,” though he grudgingly agreed that he would allow tests to continue. Jaw-dropping as that might seem, in a way Trump is right—since he’s completely surrendered any idea of responding to the pandemic, what’s the point in testing? There’s to be no national coordination of testing, no unified system of case tracing, no national mandate on masks, and no suggestion of providing states with any guidance on addressing the still-increasing number of cases. Once you’re content to drown, is there really any reason to measure the rising tide?

Of course, Trump doesn’t intend to go down alone. And his basic inflexibility means that once he has said something, he never even considers the option of changing his mind. So it’s perfectly understandable that in a Wednesday briefing, Trump absolutely declared his commitment to reopening schools and plopping children into closely-packed chairs. That includes his own son and his grandchildren, though of course, none of the above actually attend a public school. In expressing his commitment to experimenting on kids, Trump went through an entire set of talking points about children’s inability to catch COVID-19 or to transmit the disease to others—talking points that are 100% wrong.

As The Washington Post coverage of the event notes, Trump was insistent that schools “open to 100 percent.” This means no social distancing and no way to prevent spread to either students or teachers. It’s simply not possible when many classrooms are packed with 30-40 students in a space originally planned for half that number. Many schools even use trailers or other temporary facilities to cram in additional students. It’s utterly impossible to maintain any degree of safety in such a situation.

Of course, Trump doesn’t believe there’s any need. Because Trump has a very specific understanding about children and COVID-19. “A lot of people are saying they don’t transmit [...] They don’t catch it easily,” said Trump. “They don’t bring it home easily. And if they do catch it, they get better fast.”

*snip*

[LizBeth]

2. So, Trump said it. I was wondering why all of a sudden I was hearing kids do not get it, cannot

transmit it. Ridiculous and hadn't heard this for four months then all of a sudden it is out there. Ridiculous. Of course kids get it and give it to others. Not like the virus says, oh youth, stay away.