CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield says teachers are ‘critical workers’ just like doctors, and should continue to show up at schools, even after possible exposure to COVID-19.
In a teleconference on Friday, Redfield stressed the importance of educators reopening classes across the country for personal learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘I would just like to emphasize how important our teachers are. I mean, her profession is extremely important, ‘the top doctor explained.
He added: “You know they should not be formally recognized as critical infrastructure workers because I think we all know they are.”
According to Yahoo, Redfield then drew ‘a parallel to being a doctor, a profession in which individuals’ have to stay in the arena’ – implying that teachers have to do the same. ‘
CDC director Dr Robert Redfield says teachers are ‘critical workers’ who may have to continue showing in schools, even after possible exposure to COVID-19.
Redfield’s claim that teachers are essential workers reflects the White House’s claim earlier this week.
CNN reported on Friday that ‘Vice President Mike Pence announced that decision to executives on a call’.
‘Under the guidance of the Homeland Security Department, teachers are now considered’ critical infrastructure workers’ and are subject to the same kinds of advice as other workers who have carried that label – such as doctors and legislators. ‘
The designation comes as schools across the country began to reopen for the 2020-2021 academic year, with the decision causing deep divisions in many communities.
The teachers’ unions have blown the move, despite the fact that doctors, nurses, first responders and supermarket workers continue to maintain their own health by working every day.
Schools across the country are reopening for personal learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. Students are pictured arriving for lessons at a high school in Racine, Wisconsin on Tuesday
In a statement, the National Education Association told Yahoo: ‘If the Trump administration really appreciated educators, it would have listened to their concerns about safety months ago and it would not block another desperately needed coronavirus relief package that could provide schools with what they need to be safe and equivalent to continuing to train students during this pandemic ‘.
‘Instead, this administration is trying to export educators to a [reckless] reopening that risks life. ‘
Schools in several states have been forced to close days after reopening because students and faculty tested positive for COVID-19.
Asked whether teachers should continue working after possible exposure to the virus, Redfield told the teleconference that the decision would have to be worked out at a school-by-school, local-community-by -local-community ‘.
Earlier this week, however, Redfield touted new data showing that health centers were safely reopened in Rhode Island.
Teachers have been alerted to the fact that they are being forced back into classrooms, saying their health is in danger. One woman was pictured at a protest organized by the American Teachers’ Federation in Boston on Wednesday
A teacher is seen holding a sign during a rally outside the New Jersey office of Governor Phil Murphy earlier this month. Schools in New Jersey are soon set to reopen
A CDC report found that the state was able to reopen daycare programs during the summer without high rates of coronavirus spread.
Of the 666 state programs that opened, 52 were confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 at 29 centers.
Just 13 percent – four facilities – had outbreaks in which children as well as adults spread the virus to others.
Redfield held up the study as an example that could be replicated across the country.
He told reporters on a media call that the findings indicate that there is a way ‘to reopen these childcare programs, which are very important for our country.’
Redfield did not say that day care centers and schools were equal in terms of transmitting the virus.
However, many others have stated that the prevalence of COVID-19 among children is low and that schools should reopen as normal.
The United States is fighting for the spread of the deadly virus.
As of Saturday, more than 5.6 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19, and 175,350 have died.
The United States is struggling to control the spread of the deadly virus as shown in the bar graph above.
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