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While schools might be a major vector for many diseases, the evidence suggest children do not spread COVID very well to teachers. Opening schools is not a joke,

While schools might be a major vector for many diseases, the evidence suggest children do not spread COVID very well to teachers. Opening schools is not a joke, it following the evidence. Here's the US CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/transmission_k_12_schools.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-br... "Findings from several studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 transmission among students is relatively rare, particularly when prevention strategies are in place. An Australian study of 39 COVID-19 cases among 32 students and seven staff traced contacts across 28 schools and six early childhood centers and found only 33 secondary positive cases (28 students and five staff members) out of 3,439 close child contacts and 385 close staff contacts.58, 59 Several contact tracing studies have found limited student-to-student transmission in schools."

ianlevesque 5y ago
This is pre-Delta. It’s ridiculously more contagious now.
belltaco 5y ago
That study was way before delta, from Oct 2020 and with masking and social distancing in play. Delta is extremely infectious compared to the older strains. No way that children don't spread COVID very well to teachers anymore. Especially given the anti-masking push in schools.
- Exmoor 5y ago
  I think it's safe to say that Delta has made kids (especially pre-pubescent kids) more contagious than earlier strains, but they still seem to be an undersized proportion of cases currently being reported. Even in states with spiking case loads and school in session with no mask mandates, the proportion of reported cases in children is less than their proportion of the population. That doesn't even factor in the proportion of adults who are vaccinated or have been previously infected and are much less likely to be infected now. It's honestly a pretty interesting phenomenon given the fact that most people's "common sense" is that kids transmit viruses extremely well.
- angelzen 5y ago
  Sadly, cloth / surgical masks are only marginally useful. N95 and above work better, but it borders child abuse to force kids wear N95 masks eight hours in a row. Source: I have diminished lung capacity and can't wear N95 for more than 15 minutes without suffocating.

ianlevesque 5y ago

This is pre-Delta. It’s ridiculously more contagious now.

belltaco 5y ago

That study was way before delta, from Oct 2020 and with masking and social distancing in play. Delta is extremely infectious compared to the older strains. No way that children don't spread COVID very well to teachers anymore. Especially given the anti-masking push in schools.

Exmoor 5y ago
I think it's safe to say that Delta has made kids (especially pre-pubescent kids) more contagious than earlier strains, but they still seem to be an undersized proportion of cases currently being reported. Even in states with spiking case loads and school in session with no mask mandates, the proportion of reported cases in children is less than their proportion of the population. That doesn't even factor in the proportion of adults who are vaccinated or have been previously infected and are much less likely to be infected now. It's honestly a pretty interesting phenomenon given the fact that most people's "common sense" is that kids transmit viruses extremely well.
angelzen 5y ago
Sadly, cloth / surgical masks are only marginally useful. N95 and above work better, but it borders child abuse to force kids wear N95 masks eight hours in a row. Source: I have diminished lung capacity and can't wear N95 for more than 15 minutes without suffocating.