Read on Twitter
1/ There is a paragraph in this article that is really 'off', and I already see some zeroing in on it.
THREAD https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/world/europe/france-covid-schools.html?smid=tw-share
THREAD https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/world/europe/france-covid-schools.html?smid=tw-share
2/ it's this one:
3/ The 1st sentence confuses what's happening *in* schools with what's happening *outside* schools. Most studies actually show very limited within-school transmission.
Also...
Also...
4/ this sentence refers to studies about spread in teens *absent controls*. The studies they are talking about (I presume, b/c they didn't link to citation...) are not in the context of controls - namely masks and ventilation/filtration.
5/ when those controls are in place, do we see outbreaks? Not in schools, and, to the best of my knowledge, not anywhere else either. All case study outbreaks share common feature: time indoors, no masks, low/no ventilation
(There's more in this paragraph...)
(There's more in this paragraph...)
6/ They tangle up 'getting infected' with 'spreading'. The data I see don't show teens getting infected at same rates as adults, and certainly not attributable to schools
(also, where are the citations for these assertions. Hyperlinks, please)
(also, where are the citations for these assertions. Hyperlinks, please)
7/ Also not convinced that the data show they spread the same as adults (didn't we go through this already in July w/ that SK CDC "study"?)
Also...
Also...
8/ My read is that teens spread more when they are NOT in school. Wider, uncontrolled social networks. Creates greater risks for all - in community, at home, in school.
@BillHanage hit on this in August. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/14/hybrid-learning-coronavirus-risk/
@BillHanage hit on this in August. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/14/hybrid-learning-coronavirus-risk/
9/ There's still more in this paragraph...
"keeping schools open safely is trickier..."
Wrong. We know *exactly* what needs to be done. This is not tricky. https://schools.forhealth.org/risk-reduction-strategies-for-reopening-schools/
"keeping schools open safely is trickier..."
Wrong. We know *exactly* what needs to be done. This is not tricky. https://schools.forhealth.org/risk-reduction-strategies-for-reopening-schools/
10/ Is this doable? Yes. I've talked with many many districts going back to June who have implemented these strategies.
(there's still more in this 1 paragraph...)
(there's still more in this 1 paragraph...)
11/ The paragraph ends by saying 'social distancing...even more important."
Again, this is wrong and misses what we know about age-specific exposure, risk and controls. 6' distancing is keeping millions out of school.
@DrBleich and I explain it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/12/three-feet-social-distancing-schools-coronavirus/
Again, this is wrong and misses what we know about age-specific exposure, risk and controls. 6' distancing is keeping millions out of school.
@DrBleich and I explain it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/12/three-feet-social-distancing-schools-coronavirus/
12/ As @DrBleich and I wrote:
"The critical question, then, is: How do we protect teachers?"
This we also know how to do
"The critical question, then, is: How do we protect teachers?"
This we also know how to do
13/ Teachers should
-continue to distance 6' from students as much as possible
-limit adult-to-adult interaction
-be given better masks
and...
-continue to distance 6' from students as much as possible
-limit adult-to-adult interaction
-be given better masks
and...
14/ schools should
-ensure classrooms meet a target of four to six air changes per hour, achieved through any combination of filtration and ventilation.
-require masks for all
-ensure classrooms meet a target of four to six air changes per hour, achieved through any combination of filtration and ventilation.
-require masks for all
15/ we have been working hard to get schools the tools they need to get open and stay open.
All resources here: https://schools.forhealth.org/
All resources here: https://schools.forhealth.org/
