1/25 More Thoughts on Schools, or How We Might have Blown it Again. Apologies to many who want to rush back, for understandable reasons, despite potentially horrific cost of doing so. This is NOT just about children getting infected. It's about the entire country. (more) https://twitter.com/CorsIAQ/status/1282781811190280194

2/25 Those calling to simply open schools, whether prepared or not, are rolling dice on possible SARS-CoV-2 blitzkrieg. In addition to increased community spread and the health and life of teachers and staff, ... (more)

3/25 doing this wrong and having to close schools will be likely fast-tracking an ineffective vaccine. It will make it that much harder to get back to the classroom when districts are actually ready to do so PROPERLY. (more)

4/25 There was a way to do this right, and school districts needed to start weeks and weeks ago. Some schools and districts have implemented SOME precautions. Others have not, and there is a huge equity issue associated with school districts that can and cannot do so. (more)

5/25 My experience working with schools in Texas is that many are severely under-resourced, under-staffed, and under-ventilated, especially in under-served communities in the Rio Grande Valley, but even in Central Texas. (more)

6/25 Some are operating at 1/3 or less of ASHRAE standard 62.1 2019. Many literally attempt to seal outdoor air intakes to save energy and associated expenditures. None have filtration systems sufficient to remove appreciable airborne particles that contain viruses. (more)

7/25 A large number (especially in lower grades) are so cluttered that custodial staff cannot even clean the floors, something that does not bode well for physical distancing or disinfection. (more)

8/25 Many districts cannot afford widespread portable air cleaners with HEPA filters, & even if they could order them they may not be received in time for the school year. And sadly, some schools are being preyed upon by those selling low-cost snake oil. (more)

9/25 Aside from the need to reduce community spread in hot spots across the country that are considering opening schools, the following actions should be (or should have been) taken by every school district as a minimum to reduce airborne & close contact transmission. (more)

10/25 Decrease density and increase physical distancing. You cannot operate classrooms with normal capacity. Period. That will mean more sections, some students staying home, or whatever else it takes. Do it. (more)

11/25 Everyone needs to wear a mask. Period. We should not be talking about this anymore. And everyone should know that “masks for all” provides as much or greater dose and risk reduction than just about anything else on this list of recommendations. Do it. (more)

12/25 Student speaking in classroom should be kept to a minimum (sorry education experts - sacrifice is needed to get through this). And activities like singing or wind instruments should be done outdoors (ONLY), if at all, w/ significant physical distancing. Do it. (more)

13/25 Increase outdoor air supply rates (ventilation). This is easier in some areas than others due to outdoor environmental conditions, but should be possible to some extent everywhere. Do it. (more)

14/25 Where possible, have class outdoors w/ proper distancing. I used to teach myclasses outdoors @ut_caee from time to time (students brought towels & I'd wheel an old-fashioned chalkboard to a nice grassy area). Yes, it's even possible in Texas sometime! Do it. y'all! (more).

15/25 Most schools in hot and hot/humid climates will need to recirculate a lot of air, especially at start of school yr, & those in cold climates will need to later in the fall. If possible, PROPERLY replace existing filters w/ those w/ MERV 13 or higher rating. Do it. (more)

16/25 Use portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration and Clean Air Delivery Rates of 300 (scfm) in every classroom less than 1,000 square feet as well as staff office suites. Avoid ion generators or other gimmicky add-ons that cost more. Do it. (more)

17/25 If schools are able to do all of these things, the exposure, inhaled dose, and risk of COVID-19 infection from the airborne and close contact routes, at least in the classroom, will be MUCH MUCH lower. Do it. (more).

18/25 But that’s just a start, as school buildings contain more than just classrooms. They are complex systems. A lot of administrative risk reduction methods are also needed with staged classroom exits and entrances to reduce traffic in hallways, and much more Do it. (more)

19/25 School lunches should be handed out via staging to reduce cafeteria traffic, with students disseminated/distanced while eating --- outdoors as much as possible. Do it. (more)

20/25 There is so much more. If districts have not started doing many of these things the window of opportunity is almost entirely closed - and schools in that shape ought to be as well - especially in states w/ raging COVID-19 fires due to previous bad decisions. (more)

21/25 This is not a game. If we do not do it right, we will be set back in our fight against this horrific pandemic. Learn from other countries that have done it right & wrong. Israel re-opened schools w/o being prepared & saw 130 COVID-19 cases in ONE school alone. (more)

22/25 Do it right or else find other ways to help children and their parents until we get to a point where we can do it properly. Start listening to building scientists instead of politicians and others who do not understand building systems, nonetheless science. (more)

23/25 Look at the Harvard plan for re-opening schools. https://schools.forhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2020/06/Harvard-Healthy-Buildings-Program-Schools-For-Health-Reopening-Covid19-June2020.pdf

Follow building scientists like @IAQinGWN, @j_g_allen, @ShellyMBoulder, @Wymelenberg, @WBahnfleth, @stephensbrent, & others who understand buildings, controls, & strategies for reducing dose. (more)

24/25 I will end here only by saying how disappointed I am in our inability to develop a cohesive and logical plan to get things done right on so many fronts related to this pandemic. We become too mired in frivolous debate that often excludes science, & then we all lose. (more)

25/25 We need to get past how to deal with rapid community infection once it happens, and do better at preventing it from happening in the 1st place. Opening schools without substantial precautions in place is DUMB & a recipe for taking 100 steps backward. We must do it right.