Sunday, July 19, 2020

LARGE STUDY FINDS OLDER CHILDREN SPREAD CORONAVIRUS AS MUCH AS ADULTS; SCIENCE TEACHER SAYS NO TO IN SCHOOL TEACHING DURING A PANDEMIC

This news article is from the NY Times. Thanks to a reader who sent it out.

Older Children Spread the Coronavirus Just as Much as Adults, Large Study Finds

The study of nearly 65,000 people in South Korea suggests that school reopenings will trigger more outbreaks.

In the heated debate over reopening schools, one burning question has been whether and how efficiently children can spread the virus to others.

A large new study from South Korea offers an answer: Children younger than 10 transmit to others much less often than adults do, but the risk is not zero. And those between the ages of 10 and 19 can spread the virus at least as well as adults do.

The findings suggest that as schools reopen, communities will see clusters of infection take root that include children of all ages, several experts cautioned.

“I fear that there has been this sense that kids just won’t get infected or don’t get infected in the same way as adults and that, therefore, they’re almost like a bubbled population,” said Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota.

“There will be transmission,” Dr. Osterholm said. “What we have to do is accept that now and include that in our plans.”

Several studies from Europe and Asia have suggested that young children are less likely to get infected and to spread the virus. But most of those studies were small and flawed, said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute.

The new study “is very carefully done, it’s systematic and looks at a very large population,” Dr. Jha said. “It’s one of the best studies we’ve had to date on this issue.”

There is more in the article. This study is an important piece of evidence to consider when deciding whether or not to reopen school buildings.

There is also a powerful opinion piece in The Times that is further essential reading. The title is, Please Don’t Make Me Risk Getting Covid-19 to Teach Your Child
If I’m asked to return, I’ll have to walk away.

It is written by Washington public high school medical science teacher Rebecca Martinson.

Some highlights:

My school district and school haven’t ruled out asking us return to in-person teaching in the fall. As careful and proactive as the administration has been when it comes to exploring plans to return to the classroom, nothing I have heard reassures me that I can safely teach in person.

More than 75 New York Department of Education employees have died of Covid-19. CDC guidelines say a return to traditional schooling with in-person classes would involve the “highest risk” for Covid-19 spread. But even in-person classes with students spaced apart and prevented from sharing materials are categorized as leading to “more risk.” The “lowest risk” for spread, according to the CDC, is virtual learning. I can’t understand why we would choose more risk than is necessary. 

Ms Martinson then describes her transition in a few months from a novice to a competent remote teacher. Her conclusion is a statement of resolve for every educator:

If I’m asked to return to the classroom as the pandemic rages, I will have to walk away. As deeply as I love teaching, I will not risk spreading this virus in a way that could hurt a child or a family member of a child. While children make up a small proportion of U.S. coronavirus cases and they are less likely to become seriously ill than adults, the virus might be linked to “multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.” Plus, many of my students struggle with poverty or are from multigenerational households. I will not risk passing a virus to them that they might pass to their vulnerable loved ones. I won’t do it.

It isn’t fair to ask teachers to buy school supplies; we aren’t the government. But we do it anyway. It isn’t fair to ask us to stop a bullet; we aren’t soldiers. But we go to work every day knowing that if there’s a school shooting, we’ll die protecting our students.

But this is where I draw the line: It isn’t fair to ask me to be part of a massive, unnecessary science experiment. I am not a human research subject. I will not do it.

I would change the last line to, "We will not do it." This should be a collective resolve.



34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Study after study only demonstrates how it is unsafe to open schools.

To add, there was even a study on how coronavirus can impact infertility in men. It can be accessed on the NY Post: https://nypost.com/2020/07/18/covid-19-may-cause-male-infertility-be-sexually-transmitted-study/

"Coronavirus may be sexually transmitted and cause male infertility: study"
By Paula Froelich July 18, 2020.


A study from a journal published by the American Medical Association-



"The latest coronavirus threat really hits below the belt.

A new study claims the coronavirus can not only rob you of your taste and smell — it may leave men infertile and could be transmitted sexually.

The study, published last month in JAMA, a monthly open-access medical journal published by the American Medical Association, found the presence of COVID-19 in 15% of semen samples collected.

Researcher Dr. John Aitken likened it to the Zika virus. “It should be emphasized spermatozoa have a demonstrable capacity to carry viral infections from the male to the female reproductive tract, As happens during the sexual transmission of Zika, for example,” he told local San Antonio Fox 8. Zika virus is a mostly mosquito-borne virus that can also be sexually transmitted.

The study also found that COVID-19 in human sperm “leads to a build-up of angiotensin II, which is a hormone that regulates kidney function and blood pressure. Increased levels of this hormone cause an immune response against the invading COVID-19 virus particles that increases the availability of reactive oxygen species that causes cell death… Prolonged exposure to elevated angiotenstin II levels can lead to cell death in sperm.”

The study notes it could “ultimately result in a loss of male fertility.”

Anonymous said...

Article in the NY Times titled, "Sweden Has Become the World’s Cautionary Tale" by Peter S. Goodman, Published July 7, 2020 - Updated July 15, 2020.

"More than three months later, the coronavirus is blamed for 5,420 deaths in Sweden, according to the World Health Organization. That might not sound especially horrendous compared with the more than 129,000 Americans who have died. But Sweden is a country of only 10 million people. Per million people, Sweden has suffered 40 percent more deaths than the United State......"

Anonymous said...

Of course there will be cases of Covid-19 in the schools and possibly at a higher rate than if schools return to complete distance learning (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)

That being said, the number of infections will be a reflection of the number of infections in the city.

Beyond that, there is a heightened awareness of the lethality of Seasonal Flu in our city and the steps that must be used to prevent the spread of flu are the exact steps used to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Yes, flu does not ordinarily kill kids [is is more lethal than Covid to the kids BTW] but there is a risk kids can spread it to the more vulnerable staff and grandparents.

Reopened schools with permanent social distancing, hygiene, and masks is very much in order.

And it is about time, IMHO. No more joking about how schools are like petri dishes. Our lives are unnecessarily at risk and this is an opportunity to finally get it right.

Anonymous said...

All the criterias for reopening schools are just highlighting how NYC public schools cannot open. Remote is the solution. Lives are at risk.

Anonymous said...

More than 3,722,200 people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus, and at least 139,955 have died, according to a Times database. The country, logging a seven-day average of 65,790 new cases a day, has more confirmed cases per capita than any other major industrial nation.

Let's open the schools. What could go wrong?

Anonymous said...

Black woman tells people to stop shooting illegal fireworks. She is shot dead. BLM? Uft? Sharpton? Mayor?

Anonymous said...

This is who is in charge of us. Our safety. I thought we were broke. First Lady Chirlane McCray’s embattled ThriveNYC mental-health program is recruiting new staff– despite Mayor Bill de Blasio’s hiring freeze on municipal employees — and warnings of layoffs for 22,000 city workers because of the $9 billion budget hole left by the coronavirus pandemic.

Anonymous said...

I love how they say kids are unlikely to get sick when 85 infants in Texas just contracted the disease.

Anonymous said...

This is who is in charge? Who we negotiate with? Feel good? Nine shot, one killed in bloody Saturday as NYC shootings skyrocket

ATR 25/55 said...

Typical NY Times 'reporting.' The new study "suggests." not "proves," "concludes," or "establishes." And though one of the scientists says the other studies were "small and flawed" the article does nothing to back up these claims, making it more of an opinion. In short, this is good fodder for confirmation bias for those who are looking for reasons not to go back to school.

Anonymous said...

Los Angeles Times
@latimes
· 11m
Garcetti says L.A. very close to new stay-at-home order, but he'd prefer a different approach latimes.com

LA about to close down again, But NYC teachers can drop dead...

Anonymous said...

It is very sad about the 85 infants less than a year old got the virus.

Anonymous said...

Chirlene McCray and Bill De Blasio are a dangerous combination.

Anonymous said...

Also, what is to stop people from still going in who think they might have it?

Anonymous said...

I am concerned.
My wife is pregnant.
School is about to start..

And there’s still No Clear Plan on Health & Family Safety. ����

We also want to protect ourselves.

Anonymous said...

I think we've been repeating the same complaints for 15 years and nothing has changed. Why expect it now?

Anonymous said...

You cannot predict the future but the study is pretty clear on what is likely to happen ATR 25-55. It is straughtforward.

Anonymous said...

James, Do you know why when I checked my current status on the open market website and it asks if I am currently excessed and it said no, your assignment is in progress please check back later? Did any other ATRs get the same message?

James Eterno said...

Check with Mike Sill.

Anonymous said...

@ 8:56 PM - I am an in the ATR status. Have the same information for status - not excessed and assignment in progress. Another ATR status person I know communicated the same thing.

Anonymous said...

Saw my doc today for annual checkup. Her recommendations for me and my teacher friends:
1)have at least 5 n95 masks (no homemade masks) and label them mon-fri. Let them sit for a week between wearing.
2) with the n95, also wear a face shield.
3) wear mask in a high bun and cover hair because droplets can rest in hair and then spread if touched.
4) when getting home, clothes go straight to washer, don’t bring work stuff in house
5) life insurance and will

Anonymous said...

Do you have his contact info?

Anonymous said...

Yet another article. This one is in Chalkbeat NY titled:

"With mounting pressures and new coronavirus health concerns, NYC principals weigh whether to return to school
Even before COVID-19, the city was poised for a wave of principal retirements. The pandemic could hasten their leave."

By Christina Veiga Jul 17, 2020, 2:37pm EDT


Administrators are leaving. Fleeing for different reasons. COVID is just speeding up the decision to leave.

Anonymous said...

GET THE FACTS
ALL UFT MEMBERS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A UFT TOWNHALL
JOIN THE MEMBERS WHO WILL GET THE UFT POSITION ON ALL THAT IS DISCUSSED ON THIS BLOG

Anonymous said...

TOWNHALL IS TOMORROW
JULY 21 AT 3 15
GET THE FACTS
THIS IS IMPORTANT AND YOU SHOULD KEEP INFORMED

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew and facts is pretty much an oxymoron.

Prehistoric pedagogue said...

So, those of you who are opposed to in person education. What is your bottom line? Do you want the schools closed until there is a reliable vaccine that is readily available to all? That could easily be another year. Knowing what a joke remote learning is, do we still really want it that way?

Anonymous said...

James as a good union member---
ADVISE YOUR MEMBERS TO GET THEIR UNION'S
POSITION ON THE FACTS INSTEAD OF HEARING A SLANTED VERSION OF THE FACTS THAT SOME OF YOUR BLOGGERS PRESENT.
THEN THE MEMBERS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

Anonymous said...

Like Mulgrew doesn't have a slanted version of the facts. Unity member for sure. Please state what job you hold with the UFT.

Anonymous said...

Hear the facts
UFT TOWNHALL TUESDAY TOMORROW 3 15
I admit I am one of the vast majority of UFTers that voted for Unity
I want to hear what the leadership of my union has to say in response to the horrendous situation we face.
Its hard to imagine anyone not wanting to know.
Best to all UFT members, stay healthy and keep informed.

Anonymous said...

You are a big part of the problem 4:06. We continually are lied to or just not defended by the UFT. At these town halls, only cupcake questions get passed screeners.

Anonymous said...

Unity sucks.

Anonymous said...

4 21 that is a great contribution to this crisis.
Compare that contribution to participating in the UFT TOWNHALL TUESDAY 3 15

Anonymous said...

Listening to bullshit so they can send us I to die. That is a great contribution.