The COVID Controversy Continues...
Good Morning all!
I have been doing a lot of research and study on the opening of schools and the status of current Covid-19 infections in children. The entire conundrum relative to opening schools and beginning a "normal" fall season for children and families has become very confusing for school districts, teachers, parents, and children. I for one pray that we do not have another year like the last one. A year filled with disappointments for school aged children. There were many examples of things that were stripped from our children. Things such as kids not being able to play academic and regional sports, or even their ability to interact socially with friends and classmates. Think of all the lost memories for these young people who never had the opportunity to attend their senior prom, or have a "normal" graduation, and a graduation party with friends and family to name just a couple of simple joys that were stripped away from school aged children. That short list does not even consider the lack of routine and "normal" education hours. Certainly, all these changes created significant stress for not only the kids, but parents, educators, and administrators.
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Many of us on both sides of the isle have become overwhelmed with the political, emotional, monetary aspects of the pandemic. I think we can all agree that some things were both foolish and cost lives as we entered the unknowns of this pandemic. Things like placing hospital patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in nursing homes and thereby facilitating the deaths of thousands of individuals in those facilities who had multiple preexisting comorbidities. Unfortunately, many loved ones were lost as a result of this poorly thought out regulation in several States including our own Commonwealth. The frustrating part for families who were affected by this mindless decision was that in most instances they were not even informed this was going to take place.
The most egregious aspect of this process was at the point when family members were subsequently informed that their parent or loved one had contracted Covid-19 in one of these facilities they were not permitted to be with them during their illness, or as they took their last breath. The unthinkable act of allowing a person to expire with no loved ones around them to give aid and comfort occurred repeatedly over a period of months. Another example of decisions being made which were not based entirely on research was one that potentially affected all front-line healthcare workers. I have searched the literature simply for referenced research studies that would demonstrate the effects of prolonged use of face masks. Recognizing that when face masks are used for many hours in succession, such as what my staff and I are required to do, we are inhaling warmed, moist air containing many waste products that our bodies are expelling every time we exhale. I have found not a single study published in a reputable reference journal on this subject. If anyone finds one, please forward it off to me. Until then we must draw our own common-sense conclusions.
Unfortunately for all of us I believe that fear has become the driving force in the process at this point rather than scientific research. This seems especially true relative to the process of opening our schools again. This has already occurred in many European countries to date.
Recently, I have been attempting to find research related to our children and restarting schools again. Fortunately, there have been some studies published on this topic, and I would like to bring some clarity to you based on the studies that I have been able to uncover thus far.
The first study I would like to reference was published on August 14, 2020 in the Journal of the American Medical Association entitled "Influenza in the Covid-19 Era". In this article the authors contrast seasonal Influenza, and Covid-19 infections. The information I was focusing on was as I have stated relative to opening schools and bringing children back. What I found were many interesting facts regarding children in relationship to Covid-19 infections. I would like to cut to the chase with one quote from this article; "Managing the pediatric population may differ because there are several unique characteristics of the viruses in children. Influenza is a source of significant morbidity and mortality in children, and individuals between the ages of 5 and 17 years are considered to play a critical role in propagating seasonal influenza outbreaks. In contrast, the disease trajectory of COVID-19 in children is typically mild, and children may be less likely to be infected or infect others."
This last sentence gives credence and credibility to the argument that we should be opening schools again.
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I would next like to call your attention to the chart from this article which contrasts Influenza infections with Covid-19 infections. When you open this run down to the "Most Common Clinical Manifestations" and look at the symptoms contrasting those from and Influenza infection and a Covid-19 infection. What you will notice is that there is a lot of cross over between these two viral infections. However, in particular look at the notation below this line item. It states the following: "For both viruses, the majority of infections are either subclinical or mild." I found that statement remarkably interesting. You draw your own conclusions on that one. Take a look at this for yourselves.
Here is another quote from one of the studies these researchers referenced in their article. Take a look and let's get a little better perspective on what the potential is that our children are at high risk, and that schools must continue to be virtual. Here is what this study concludes with, and the authors thoughts are relative not only to the current level of research, but also the need for further research. "Further seroprevalence studies (powered adequately for the paediatric population) are urgently required to establish whether children are in fact less likely to be infected compared to adults." My addition to this is that the current research, all be it limited, is pointing to the fact that children are in fact less likely to contract and transmit Covid-19 infections.
Many schools are either totally returning all students to school, or not letting any children back and are continuing all classes virtually. Then there are those districts practicing a hybridized form of these two concepts. Time will tell which one of these processes were the best when we consider all of the outcomes including not only the scholastic outcomes, but also the social, emotional, psychological, and physical outcomes as well.
These researchers are basing their conclusions to date on current studies. They further acknowledge the fact that continued research is needed to gain more confidence in our current findings. As I interpret the studies I have referenced to date this indicates to me at least that there is no doubt our children should be physically returning to school.
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I know this will be a controversial article, but please understand that once again I am trying to make some sense out of what is going on based only on solid referenced research we have accumulated to date.
Please make every attempt on your part to remove emotion and politics from your thought process as you ruminate over what I have presented here. I am not looking forward to responding to personal attacks or political responses to this article. I trust you will consider the facts I have presented. I certainly acknowledge that these facts are early and based on the data we have accrued to date. I further acknowledge as is always the case that there should be no 100% expected outcome with any research study. The purpose of scientific research is to prove or disprove if possible, a stated hypothesis. So, let us all keep it civil, and focus on facts to date. If you have other referenced data you would like to share with me on the subject, I would be glad to review, and consider it relative to my current findings on the subject.