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Something I'm wondering... has anyone (reporters, other) looked into whether the COVID cases & deaths of NYC educators correlated with school-based transmission?
Saw lots of stories like this:
1/ @anya1anya https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/14/834355560/new-york-city-reports-50-educators-lost-to-coronavirus
Saw lots of stories like this:
1/ @anya1anya https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/14/834355560/new-york-city-reports-50-educators-lost-to-coronavirus
I don't believe that any of the stories ever showed:
- School-based contagion from Ts to other Ts
– School-based spread from these Eds to Ss
Did I miss that?
2/ @cveiga @AGZimmerman https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/4/27/21247055/coronavirus-death-toll-for-nyc-education-department-hits-68
- School-based contagion from Ts to other Ts
– School-based spread from these Eds to Ss
Did I miss that?
2/ @cveiga @AGZimmerman https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/4/27/21247055/coronavirus-death-toll-for-nyc-education-department-hits-68
The absence of stories – and outcry – about clusters emerging from schools suggests to me that school-based transmission was not occurring in any meaningful way as the virus began to ravage NYC.
3/ @bychrisbrito https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-city-teachers-died-coronavirus-covid-19/
3/ @bychrisbrito https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-city-teachers-died-coronavirus-covid-19/
And Lord knows NYC closed too late, as Hizzoner dragged out the school closure decision to placate healthcare worker unions. #ThereIsAlwaysAUnionDriver
I recall that era all-too-well.
4/ https://eduvaites.org/2020/03/14/its-time-to-close-schools-in-nyc-and-support-families-and-kids-in-the-process/
I recall that era all-too-well.
4/ https://eduvaites.org/2020/03/14/its-time-to-close-schools-in-nyc-and-support-families-and-kids-in-the-process/
So... NYC was the first virus epicenter.
We tragically lost educator lives, as covered in stories above & elsewhere.
Yet there's no evidence that school-based transmission caused those cases, nor that educator causes resulted in school-based clusters.
Sound right?
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We tragically lost educator lives, as covered in stories above & elsewhere.
Yet there's no evidence that school-based transmission caused those cases, nor that educator causes resulted in school-based clusters.
Sound right?
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Also... correct me if I'm mistaken, but it doesn't seem that anyone in the media has explored this question... even to understand the role of school-based transmission from a US context.
Is that also correct, or have I missed stories?
6/ @ZacBissonnette @alexanderrusso
Is that also correct, or have I missed stories?
6/ @ZacBissonnette @alexanderrusso
The only coverage I've seen is this excellent piece by @anya1anya, exploring child care centers that stayed open during outbreak.
This is critical journalism. It has substantiated other cases RE kids and transmission & allayed fears RE reopening.
7/ https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns
This is critical journalism. It has substantiated other cases RE kids and transmission & allayed fears RE reopening.
7/ https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns
The lack of reporting on the NYC school-based transmission angle feels like a missed opportunity to understand the role of schools in transmission... or to put a fine point on the *apparent* takeaway: schools didn't cause spread/clusters in NYC in March as the virus spread.
8/
8/
The lack of reporting on this angle feels consequential.
Right now, fear dominates the school closure conversation. #understatements
We see coverage of the fear itself... but not much reporting on the studies that could help allay these fears.
9/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/us/virus-teachers-classrooms.html
Right now, fear dominates the school closure conversation. #understatements
We see coverage of the fear itself... but not much reporting on the studies that could help allay these fears.
9/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/us/virus-teachers-classrooms.html
The coverage notes that teachers are "unaware" of these studies... yet the very same articles give passing mention to those studies towards the end of the article.
10/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/us/virus-teachers-classrooms.html
10/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/us/virus-teachers-classrooms.html
It's hard to miss that most of the folks writing about the evidence that schools (esp elementaries) are not transmission points are bloggers/OpEd writers. See a collection from @SarahCohodes @ChadAldeman @ADarcyMahoney @BenjaminLinas @John_Bailey.
11/ https://eduvaites.org/2020/07/12/the-least-worst-school-reopening-idea-elementary-first/
11/ https://eduvaites.org/2020/07/12/the-least-worst-school-reopening-idea-elementary-first/
My social feeds are FULL of fear that would be allayed by these studies. Especially parent fear!
This isn't just about the back to school debate. I can't get play dates IN PARKS for my 8YO BC parent fear of kid transmission is pervasive.
Kids indoors for a year worries me.
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This isn't just about the back to school debate. I can't get play dates IN PARKS for my 8YO BC parent fear of kid transmission is pervasive.
Kids indoors for a year worries me.
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Good info is a public service.
I think about those Cuomo pressers that were watched by NYers, and how refreshing it was that he started with the data... then went into the implications... and his personal feelings came last.
Feels like there's a lesson here for media.
13/
I think about those Cuomo pressers that were watched by NYers, and how refreshing it was that he started with the data... then went into the implications... and his personal feelings came last.
Feels like there's a lesson here for media.
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Most politicians have failed us in providing such good, quality, important info.
When it's info that would help parents make critical decisions for their kids, we DESPERATELY need the media to center and elevate the evidence about transmission by kids/in schools.
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When it's info that would help parents make critical decisions for their kids, we DESPERATELY need the media to center and elevate the evidence about transmission by kids/in schools.
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And I don't write this thread as an advocate for opening up businesses.
I write this as an advocate for children that knows that continued closure of schools DOES have risk for children's health and wellness. An under-discussed angle here.
15/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/13/hospitals-seeing-more-severe-child-abuse-injuries-during-coronavirus/3116395001/
I write this as an advocate for children that knows that continued closure of schools DOES have risk for children's health and wellness. An under-discussed angle here.
15/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/13/hospitals-seeing-more-severe-child-abuse-injuries-during-coronavirus/3116395001/
