Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of President Trump’s coronavirus task force, this weekend traveled to Kentucky where she encouraged bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity as cases surge across the state and the south.
- “In meetings with Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky health officials Sunday, Dr. Deborah Birx, the response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, recommended Kentucky close bars and reduce restaurant capacity to help prevent the increasing spread of COVID-19.” [Lexington Herald Leader, 7/26/20]
- “‘We have significant concerns about the rising test positivity rate and the rising number of cases,’ Birx said. ‘We can see what is happening in the south moving north.’ Birx said Kentucky was currently in ‘the yellow zone,’ meaning that the number of cases are rising, but it still hasn’t risen to the level of concern of places like Florida and Texas.” [Lexington Herald Leader, 7/26/20]
- “Restaurants only resumed limited in-person services in May, and bars were allowed to open June 29 at partial capacity, as Beshear began easing some restrictions he had previously enacted through emergency public health orders. But soon afterward, new cases of COVID-19 began to rise, alarming public health officials. Birx said Sunday it appears the country is in a new phase of COVID-19 cases where more young people are becoming infected, though they show few or no symptoms, and are infecting others more vulnerable to the disease, including their parents and grandparents.” [Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/26/20]
Birx’s recommendation comes as the Trump administration continues to push for the broad reopening of schools, despite that cases are rising in more than 30 states and that the evidence shows that students can contract and spread the virus.
Since May, The Center For Disease And Prevention Control Has Warned That Full Reopening Of K-12 And Higher Education Would Lead To The “Highest Risk” Of Covid Spread.
- “Since May, the C.D.C. website has cautioned that full reopening would be ‘highest risk,’ and that in both K-12 and higher education settings, the more people interact, ‘and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of Covid-19 spread.’ The ‘lowest risk,’ the guidelines say, would be for students and teachers to attend virtual-only classes — an option the administration this week began a full-court press against.” [New York Times, 7/10/20]
A South Korea Study Found That Children Between The Ages Of 10 And 19 Spread The Virus “At Least As Well As” Adults.
- “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]
The Number Of New Coronavirus Cases In Israel Increased From Fewer Than 50 A Day To 1,500 A Day Since Reopening Schools.
- “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]
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]
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]