Donald Trump took to FOX News this morning to offer another dangerously inaccurate tirade downplaying the danger of the virus and spreading misinformation about the risks posed to children, schools, and families.
In an interview rife with inaccuracies, he made the outlandish claims that “this thing is going away. It will go away like things go away, and my view is that schools should be open,” before continuing to say kids are “almost immune.”
In response, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“Every time Donald Trump opens his mouth to talk about the pandemic, the world becomes a little more dangerous for families trying to navigate this deadly disease.
“This morning’s deranged interview is another shining example of the only strategy Trump can stick to: downplaying the danger this crisis continues to pose, ignoring the best advice of his experts, and pushing states and schools to reopen before it’s safe for them to do so.
“The tragic result is more Americans dying.
“There is overwhelming evidence that this virus poses real danger to kids and the teachers and administrators who would be forced to educate them if schools are pressured to immediately reopen without the resources and support to do so safely.
“The facts are clear to everyone except Donald Trump and his allies –– this crisis is not going away, kids are not immune, and this Administration’s response has been a deadly disaster from start to finish.”
See the background on how the virus affects children and young people below:
Children And Young People Are Not Immune, They Can Become Infected, Get Sick And Die From Coronavirus
The Number Of Children Hospitalized In Florida For COVID-19 Surged 23 Percent In Just Eight Days.
- “On July 16, the state had a total of 23,170 children ages 17 and under who had tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Florida Department of Health. By July 24, that number jumped to 31,150. That’s a 34% increase in new cases among children in eight days. And more children in Florida are requiring hospitalization. As of July 16, 246 children had been hospitalized with coronavirus. By July 24, that number had jumped to 303. That’s a 23% increase in child Covid-19 hospitalizations in eight days.” [CNN, 7/27/20]
Los Angeles County Officials Announced That 15 Children Had Been Identified To Have A Serious And Potentially Deadly Inflammatory Syndrome Believed To Be Associated With Coronavirus.
- “A rare but serious and potentially deadly inflammatory syndrome believed to be associated with the coronavirus has now been identified in 15 children in Los Angeles County, officials said. Of the children, 73% were Latino, representing a disproportionate burden for the ethnic group. Latino residents are the largest ethnic group in L.A. County, making up about half of the county’s residents. Nationally, about 70% of the cases of the inflammatory syndrome have been either Latino or Black patients. Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, can cause different parts of the body to become inflamed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. Symptoms include fever, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and exhaustion.” [Los Angeles Times, 7/19/20]
Seven Minors Have Died From The Coronavirus In Florida.
- “Two teenagers in Florida have died from Covid-19 complications, according to data posted by the Florida Department of Health. The teens were between the ages of 14 and 17, the department said. This brings the total number of minors who have died in relation to the virus in Florida to seven. The others were a 9-year-old girl from Putnam County, an 11-year-old boy in Miami-Dade County, an 11-year-old girl in Broward County, a 16-year-old girl in Lee County, and a 17-year-old boy in Pasco County.” [CNN, 8/5/20]
The Five-Year-Old Daughter Of Two Detroit First Responders Died From Complications From Coronavirus.
- “The 5-year-old daughter of two Detroit first responders has died of complications from coronavirus. Skylar Herbert died Sunday at Beaumont Royal Oak Hospital after being on a ventilator for two weeks, CNN affiliate WXYZ reported. She tested positive for coronavirus last month and developed a rare form of meningitis and swelling on the brain, according to WXYZ. ‘The loss of a child, at any time, under any circumstances, is a tragedy,’ Beaumont Hospital said in a statement obtained by WXYZ. “We are heartbroken that COVID-19 has taken the life of a child. We extend our deepest sympathy to Skylar’s family and all others who have lost a loved one to this virus.” [CNN, 4/21/20]
Prestigious Medical Journal The Lancet Found That A Proportion Of Children With COVID-19 “Develop Severe Disease Requiring ICU Admission And Prolonged Ventilation.”
- “COVID-19 is generally a mild disease in children, including infants. However, a small proportion develop severe disease requiring ICU admission and prolonged ventilation… The study found that a substantial proportion (8%) of children develop severe disease, requiring intensive care support and prolonged ventilation. Several predisposing factors for requiring intensive care support were identified… Some children develop severe disease and require prolonged intensive care support, which should be accounted for in the planning of health-care services and allocation of resources during the ongoing pandemic.” [The Lancet, 6/25/20]
Children And Young People Can Transmit The Virus, Putting Teachers, Families, Communities And Vulnerable Populations At Risk
South Korea Study: “Those Between The Ages Of 10 And 19 Can Spread The Virus At Least As Well As Adults Do.”
- “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.” [New York Times, 7/18/20]
OhioHealth Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Joseph Gastaldo: “Kids Could Act As Vectors To Bring COVID-19 Home To Their Families And Perhaps Even Vulnerable People.”
- “He points to several road blocks. When it comes to smaller kids, not only will social-distancing be difficult, but requiring face coverings as well. Although early research indicates kids may be less likely to get seriously ill, the same can’t be said for loved ones at home. ‘Kids could act as vectors to bring COVID-19 home to their families and perhaps even vulnerable people,’ said Dr. Gastaldo. Dr. Gastaldo also points out another wild card could be cold and flu season. Something else school administrators will have to consider when putting together potential safety plans.” [ABC6, 7/16/20]
Texas Children’s Hospital Chief Of Critical Care Dr. Lara Shekerdemian Warned That Children “Without A Doubt” Can Spread Coronavirus.
- “Whether your child is entering preschool or high school, here’s what you should know about the coronavirus and how it can impact your family. Can children carry the coronavirus and spread it? ‘I think the answer is conclusively, without a doubt – yes,’ said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, chief of critical care at Texas Children’s Hospital.” [USA Today, 7/17/20]
Jeff Gregorich, An Arizona Superintendent In Charge Of Reopening Schools: “ I Already Lost One Teacher To This Virus. Do I Risk Opening Back Up Even If It’s Going To Cost Us More Lives?”
- “The governor has told us we have to open our schools to students on August 17th, or else we miss out on five percent of our funding. I run a high-needs district in middle-of-nowhere Arizona. We’re 90 percent Hispanic and more than 90 percent free-and-reduced lunch. These kids need every dollar we can get. But covid is spreading all over this area and hitting my staff, and now it feels like there’s a gun to my head. I already lost one teacher to this virus. Do I risk opening back up even if it’s going to cost us more lives? Or do we run school remotely and end up depriving these kids?” [Washington Post, “Voices From The Pandemic, 8/1/20]
The Number Of New Coronavirus Cases In Israel Increased From Fewer Than 50 A Day To 1,500 A Day Since Reopening Schools, Forcing Schools To Shut Down Again.
- “Some Israeli public-health officials are blaming the country’s decision to reopen schools in May for helping fuel a large new wave of coronavirus infections that has prompted authorities to shut down sections of the economy once again. In recent weeks, the number of new cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has risen to around 1,500 per day nationwide from a low of fewer than 50 a day about two months ago.” [Wall Street Journal, 7/14/20]
A CDC Analysis Found That Children Of All Ages Are Susceptible To Coronavirus And May Spread It To Others After 260 Children And Staffers Contracted The Virus In Just One Week At A Georgia Summer Camp.
- “A new report suggests that children of all ages are susceptible to coronavirus infection and may also spread it to others… The analysis, released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, details an outbreak at a sleep-away camp in Georgia last month in which 260 children and staffers — more than three-quarters of the 344 tested — contracted the virus less than a week after spending time together in close quarters. The children had a median age of 12. The camp had required all 597 campers and staff members to provide documentation that they had tested negative for the virus before coming. Staff were required to wear masks, but children were not.” [Washington Post, 7/31/20]