This is such a conundrum. Yes, is it better for kids to have the opportunity to gather in school again. But only with the necessary safety precautions: distancing, masks, hand sanitizer/hand washing spaces, reduced class sizes, health screening for all... 1/ https://twitter.com/EvaVegaWorld/status/1277872917963997184

Putting lives at risk - faculty, staff and student lives - should not be on the table. Given the regional differences in how the public is responding to mask requirements, I can only imagine pockets of safe returns to school. 2/

I have experienced the tension and also the relief of bringing students, staff and faculty back to campus for a few weeks but it was not regular school. Half-class groups attending every other day for a half-day schedule. No specials but more outdoor time. 3/

Masks required in transit, but not in the classroom. Schedule developed to minimize contact outside of the class group, hand sanitizer everywhere and often. Yes, we adapted and made it as cheerful as possible. But all in the context of a well managed nat'l COVID response. 4/

We returned at a time when Austria's new case numbers per day were rapidly declining and contact tracing was functional. I can't emphasize this enough. What made it safe to return was the overall health care & virus management context, not what we specifically did in school! 5/

I worry about schools opening in the US under very different and far more worrisome health circumsances. The risks in many areas would appear to dwarf the possible negative consequences of re-opening schools too soon. 6/6 @anya1anya