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Second thread of the day: live tweeting Gov. McMaster's teacher vaccine rollout plan. We'll see if his position on teachers in 1A or 1B has shifted overnight.
Gov. has been very pro-opening schools, but also called prioritizing the most vulnerable a moral and ethical obligation.
Gov. has been very pro-opening schools, but also called prioritizing the most vulnerable a moral and ethical obligation.
Gov. reiterates that 65+ can start getting vaccinated on Monday. Appx. 350,000 residents fall into that group.
Teachers will be next in line -- after 65+. So, no shift. @wpdeabc15
Teachers will be next in line -- after 65+. So, no shift. @wpdeabc15
Again, while teachers are in Phase 1B, they also make up almost half of that phase.
Gov. says appx. 58% of teachers are projected to get the vaccine -- again, well short of the level needed for herd immunity. @wpdeabc15
Gov. says appx. 58% of teachers are projected to get the vaccine -- again, well short of the level needed for herd immunity. @wpdeabc15
Gov. is encouraging school districts to know how many of their teachers want the vaccine so providers can prepare.
School districts not open 5 days per week must submit a reopening plan to the education department.
School districts not open 5 days per week must submit a reopening plan to the education department.
Gov. launches into his usual "open schools" pitch. Basically -- districts can operate safely and have been given the money and supplies to do so.
Also includes the CDC finding that very little spread apparently exists in schools.
Also includes the CDC finding that very little spread apparently exists in schools.
Supt. Spearman steps up to the mic. She and the governor appeared to be on testy terms for a while, so it's interesting to see them together.
"There is growing evidence... that schools are not the super spreaders they were once feared to be," she said.
"There is growing evidence... that schools are not the super spreaders they were once feared to be," she said.
"In the summer, we didn't know how it was going to work. Now we do."
*Rescinds AccelerateED guidance on reopening schools that based operations on level of community spread.*
*Rescinds AccelerateED guidance on reopening schools that based operations on level of community spread.*
It sounds like a major move, but in practice it isn't. Most districts stopped following the guidance months ago.
"Our children are experiencing more significant academic loss. This is most evident at lower grade levels where students are learning the most fundamental skills of math and reading."
Spearman says some schools may have to go virtual due to lack of staff. Otherwise -- open up.
Spearman says some schools may have to go virtual due to lack of staff. Otherwise -- open up.
McMaster giving his reasoning for maintaining status quo: older people are more at risk of dying than teachers.
Calls it (again) unethical and immoral to take doses from the vulnerable.
Calls it (again) unethical and immoral to take doses from the vulnerable.
Timeline for upcoming vaccines:
1. Johnson&Johnson/Jansen -- later this month
2. AstraZeneca -- next month
3. Novavax -- late spring?
1. Johnson&Johnson/Jansen -- later this month
2. AstraZeneca -- next month
3. Novavax -- late spring?
I couldn't hear the question, but I think McMaster is calling the push by lawmakers to put teachers in Phase 1A a bad idea.
"We expect to have much more vaccine coming in by March," McMaster says.
400,000 people are currently signed up for appointments in South Carolina. Thousands more on waiting lists.
400,000 people are currently signed up for appointments in South Carolina. Thousands more on waiting lists.
Spearman: We'll do whatever we can to help school districts.
Spearman: I do not support some teachers' stance. They signed a contract to come to work, data shows it's safe to come to work. They need to honor that contract.
