Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: golden, daycares, hotel)

[Bridge781]

Such a great time to be a parent!

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

The rolling data suggests full remote high school is a rather good idea as transmission rates seem to be equal to the data coming from the general adult population. 6-8 ... eh, hybrid probably lowers risk some but the transmission rates do seem high enough to justify full remote.

K-5? Full day K-5 seems extremely viable assuming staff have adequate PPE and training. Very low transmission rates so far.

If I recall correctly, the South Korea study showed that kids 10 and under spread it at about half the rate of adults (and kids over 10). If that study is accurate, I think it would be a huge mistake to dismiss it as insignificant.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by redplum33

If I recall correctly, the South Korea study showed that kids 10 and under spread it at about half the rate of adults (and kids over 10). If that study is accurate, I think it would be a huge mistake to dismiss it as insignificant.

From what I've read, the transmission rates are much lower and ... more often than not ... the original source of transmission is typically an adult (either staff or at their home environment).

Notable studies were from France and New South Wales (Australia).

[redplum33]

Here is the New York Times article about the South Korean study:


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


"Children under 10 were roughly half as likely as adults to spread the virus to others"

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.”

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

School committee vote for my wife's district was last night. Started at 7PM and didn't vote til almost 12:30.

K-5 will be 5-days a week, dismissal at 11:30AM and remote the rest of the day.

That sounds like an total waste.

[sawyer2]

European CDC just issued a report yesterday in follow up to the reopening of schools in some EU countries. Of course the virus spread had been better contained than here at time of reopening. We are (trying to be) mentally prepared for full remote until there is a vaccine or the spread is fully contained. Its gonna be a long winter.



"In conclusion, this review of evidence has shown that children do become infected and, when symptomatic, shed
virus in similar quantities to adults and can transmit the disease as effectively as adults in households. The
infectiousness of asymptomatic children is unknown. While very few significant outbreaks of COVID-19 have been
documented they do occur, and may be difficult to detect due to the relative lack of symptoms in children. However,
what evidence does exist suggests that transmission within schools has been uncommon, and therefore, if
appropriate physical distancing, hygiene, and other measures are applied, schools are unlikely to be more effective
propagating environments than occupational or leisure facilities with similar densities of people. Consequently,
decisions on measures in schools and school closures/openings should be made consistently, in conjunction with
decisions on other physical distancing measures."


"Key messages:
 A small proportion (<5%) of overall COVID-19 cases reported in the EU/EEA and the UK are among
children (those aged 18 years and under). When diagnosed with COVID-19, children are much less
likely to be hospitalised or have fatal outcomes than adults.

 Children are more likely to have a mild or asymptomatic infection, meaning that the infection may go
undetected or undiagnosed.

 When symptomatic, children shed virus in similar quantities to adults and can infect others in a similar
way to adults. It is unknown how infectious asymptomatic children are.

 While very few significant outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools have been documented, they do occur,
and may be difficult to detect due to the relative lack of symptoms in children.

 In general, the majority of countries report slightly lower seroprevalence in children than in adult
groups, however these differences are small and uncertain. More specialised studies need to be
performed with the focus on children to better understand infection and antibody dynamics.

 Investigations of cases identified in school settings suggest that child to child transmission in schools is
uncommon and not the primary cause of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children whose onset of infection
coincides with the period during which they are attending school, particularly in preschools and primary
schools.

 If appropriate physical distancing and hygiene measures are applied, schools are unlikely to be more
effective propagating environments than other occupational or leisure settings with similar densities of
people.

 There is conflicting published evidence on the impact of school closure/re-opening on community
transmission levels, although the evidence from contact tracing in schools, and observational data from
a number of EU countries suggest that re-opening schools has not been associated with significant
increases in community transmission.

 Available evidence also indicates that closures of childcare and educational institutions are unlikely to
be an effective single control measure for community transmission of COVID-19 and such closures
would be unlikely to provide significant additional protection of children’s health, since most develop a
very mild form of COVID-19, if any.

 Decisions on control measures in schools and school closures/openings should be consistent with
decisions on other physical distancing and public health response measures within the community."

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/def...ust%202020.pdf

[bohemka]

I don't think transmission rates or the severity of cases even matter. As soon as a single child tests positive, it'll blow up any in-person/hybrid plans for that class, the teacher, possibly teachers that teacher has interacted with, other classes, maybe the school, etc. It's going to happen. It's already happened in Georgia and Mississippi and I'm sure other places as well.

I was initially disappointed that our school district chose to go full remote, but it'll be a routine they can maintain without disruptions. Any other plan than full remote learning had better have a variety of contingency plans at the ready. This is already incredibly taxing on our educational systems, and at some point you have to eliminate unnecessary moving parts and focus on a robust remote-learning delivery system.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by bohemka

I don't think transmission rates or the severity of cases even matter. As soon as a single child tests positive, it'll blow up any in-person/hybrid plans for that class, the teacher, possibly teachers that teacher has interacted with, other classes, maybe the school, etc. It's going to happen. It's already happened in Georgia and Mississippi and I'm sure other places as well.

I was initially disappointed that our school district chose to go full remote, but it'll be a routine they can maintain without disruptions. Any other plan than full remote learning had better have a variety of contingency plans at the ready. This is already incredibly taxing on our educational systems, and at some point you have to eliminate unnecessary moving parts and focus on a robust remote-learning delivery system.

Agreed. We feel that it is inevitable that we will end up full remote, even if our school district starts with some hybrid model. Although I am betting that we will start full remote (Belmont).

[sawyer2]

"Gov. Charlie Baker is "indefinitely" postponing the next step of the state's reopening in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases that Massachusetts has seen in recent weeks.

The governor said the second step of phase three of the state's reopening plan will be put on hold and the outdoor gathering limit will decrease from 100 to 50, effective Tuesday. He said he was authorizing all state and local police to enforce the orders, and that people who host events — even on private property — that exceed gathering limits will be subject to fines."


https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/08/07...ic-enforcement

[robr2]

Originally Posted by redplum33

I assume it's because masks would have to come off to eat.

Lunch at home eliminates a bit of work.

If it's eaten in the classroom

- teachers don't have to add waitstaff and custodian to their duties
- teachers don't have to scarf down a quick lunch while trying to help the kids
- no need to bring in lunch aides to allow teacher to eat lunch in private.

If it's eaten in a cafeteria:

- additional staff and testing needed come in to prep and serve
- creates additional work for custodial staff in order to sanitize