The University of Washington announced Friday it was moving all instruction online for the next two weeks, keeping more than 50,000 students out of classrooms as the death toll from COVID-19 continued to rise.
Keeping children out of school could increase the risk that they would infect older people, who are far more vulnerable to the virus, said Patty Hayes, Seattle and King County public health director, at a news conference Friday.“When we close a school, children have to go somewhere,” she said. “So if you think about families, who often are the caregivers? It might be grandma, grandpa and elderly members of the family, the exact people that we’re concerned about.
It’s unclear what role children might play in transmitting the new coronavirus. Experts said it is now clear that their rate of serious illness is far lower than it is for adults. “I don’t see the benefit in waiting until that happens, and then reacting,” he wrote. “There comes a point where the best way to deal with the mounting variables is to begin to take control of the situation when and where we can.”
LA Times and their pay wall. Profits over their readers health and safety. My opinion - Everyone needs to stay home as much as possible. ..... Until COVID19 can be better understood. China and Italy didn't quarantine entire cities for no reason.
This is stupid and irresponsible
ChrisStigall
Disneyland is open I went 😍🤩Knotts Berry Farm is open my daughter just went yesterday fair grounds open and it’s always a success! Stop overreacting and take care of yourselves keep clean period! Bafooms!
Many children, especially those who aren't white like Patty Hayes RN, already live w/ elderly family members in multi-generational homes. For those families, reducing schoolchildren's exposure to other sick kids schools - which are giant Petri dishes - is prudent. ~ also an RN.
Wonder how the media coverage was during the 2009 swine flu pandemic (which I contracted) compared to this outbreak. 61 million in the US became infected.
Wait what
comes from el segundo times
Seems like no one has planned a plan for this !
You wrote a whole article without saying how it would make it worse. Disruptive? No kidding. But worse than a thousand runny-nosed kids spending each day together? Gimme a break. BeBetter
shame on you to take advantage of this crisis to get people to subscribe to your site. Just wrong and looks desperate. 👎🏽
That headline alone will keep me from reading the article
WHO March situation report, based on current global data, states that UNLIKE the flu, COVIDー19 is spread from adult to children, and not vice versa. Washington Health officials should explain on what scientific basis they hold the opposite opinion.
Gentle reminder - donald trump severely botched America’s response to this outbreak and citizens will die as a result. Carry on ...
So the point is the kids will infect the elderly. This assumption is all the kids are already infected. What a stupid assumption!!! Can’t believe it’s from LA Times!!!
ChrisStigall Spring break comin' .... s'all good
Is not a simple flu dangerous for hold people but can get everyone.
if we shut down school's how do we expect to teach the kid's how to avoid getting the virus - lawmaker's never think far a head
be careful not to play out the propaganda. What does the who say and the other hundreds of experts in so cal say? Is this like the n95 masks are dangerous propaganda?
This is godawful misinformation that will probably lead to more spread. Shame on the LA times. Most schools have incentives for students to have perfect attendance because it bolsters their needed numbers for funding.
Hahaha ahhh!! We have no idea what we’re doing!!!
Stfu Los Angeles ,no school
I’m sorry, but wouldn’t they be more likely to spread it to an elder if they stay in school and are more likely to be exposed to the virus?
Nothing to see here, folks. Go shopping. Go to work. Go to school. thegovernmentisheretohelpyou