Trump on Thursday called teachers “essential workers,” warning that keeping schools closed will lead to further loss of learning for black and Hispanic children, that more students will starve, and that more sexual and physical abuse will go unreported.
The president acknowledged that some districts in areas where the coronavirus is spreading aggressively could delay reopening for a few weeks, but said “each district should be making preparations to open.”
The CDC warned Thursday that outbreaks at a particular school, or even a single exposure, could force parents to keep their children at home for a two-week quarantine, which in turn could keep parents without job.
“You may need to consider the feasibility of telecommuting, take a work permit, or identify someone who can supervise your child,” the CDC suggested.
The CDC also urged parents who send their children back to school to get a flu shot, practice handwashing at home, and make it “fun.” The agency advised guardians to check children’s temperatures each morning and to keep them indoors if they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher.
Trump has spent most of July demanding that schools reopen for in-person instruction this fall. Despite their insistence and threats to cut school funding, the nation’s largest school districts are rejecting the president’s orders, opting for virtual education or just a few days a week at school.
Before making a decision about whether to send a child back to campus, CDC checklists ask parents to consider several factors, including whether the child has an underlying health condition or if someone else in the home has an increased risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus due to age or health conditions. Parents should also consider whether their local community has a high level of community outreach, the agency said.
