Closing schools in March may have saved the lives of 40,000 Americans, a new analysis found
As autumn approaches and the coronavirus continues to spread in the US, educators and politicians face a difficult choice: Whether or not to bring students back to school.
There are strong arguments on both sides: On the one hand, schools can facilitate transmission of the virus, since many are poorly ventilated, and classrooms and restrooms offer little room for social distancing. On the other hand, kids rarely die from the coronavirus, and schools provide them with crucial social engagement, education, and stability.
Closing schools can also cut off students' access to meals, and researchers have estimated that such closures could cause substantial earning losses for affected students later on in life. That's not to mention the lost earnings and productivity for parents who have to spend time caring for kids at home while school is remote.
"There really have been substantial public-health negative consequences for children not being in school," CDC director Robert Redford said in a Friday press conference. "You are going to see that the public-health benefit is far greater by getting these schools reopened."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/closing-schools-in-march-may-have-saved-the-lives-of-40000-americans-a-new-analysis-found/ar-BB17l1pb?li=BBnb7Kz
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