Thread by @dropoutnation

1) Many private schools have high COVID infection rates, yet don't always report. So parents are paying good money to endanger the lives of their kids and themselves.
2) If the federal government did its job and stemmed the pandemic, public school buildings would be open.

https://twitter.com/DrStevePerry/status/1348615560498614273

As folks such as Kenya and I have pointed out, growing evidence shows that 1) youth get COVID, 2) the infection rates for youth under 18 is now often higher (double) the rates for the population overall, and @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/KenyaBradshaw/status/1348619585336041473

In countries where school buildings have remained open, notably the United Kingdom, teachers are getting infected with COVID at rates higher than the overall population. @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/DrZoeHyde/status/1346375095137177601

Given how damaging COVID is (35% of those infected are debilitated long-term) especially to minority communities (78% of youth under 19 who die from COVID are Black, Latino and Indigenous), keeping school buildings closed until we reduce community spread make sense. @DrStevePerry

School buildings could be reopened if federal and state governments would shut down restaurants, bars and other activities.

But that takes doing things like additional pandemic aid that the current administration and Senate Republicans don't want to do. @DrStevePerry

That narrative happened because of flawed studies based on almost no testing of children and youth. Because the underlying dataset was lacking, the conclusions reached were also hot garbage. @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/SoLetsSay/status/1348642990974251011

One early 'study' came from YMCA, which operates preschools throughout the U.S. That report was based on self-reports by preschools. Which, by the way, weren't conducting COVID testing (because it was barely available at that point). @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/dropoutnation/status/1321974895639728128

A key point to remember is that COVID testing for youth under 18 is lower, often by a magnitude of three or more, than for the overall population. Until recently, when kids did get tested, it was only because parents were also being tested. @DrStevePerry

Actually, Oster's data is highly flawed. As I noted back in October, Oster's dataset didn't include urban districts and is based on self-reports by schools (who, depending on the state and the number of students involved) don't have to report infections.

https://twitter.com/DrStevePerry/status/1348644285864820737

The funny thing is, even when you look at Oster's most-recent data, what you find is that teachers doing in-person instruction are getting infected with COVID at higher rates than the overall population. @DrStevePerry link.medium.com/UeMdYtNtPcb

Oster, being an economist and not an epidemiologist, lacks credibility in discussing the matter of school buildings and COVID. Especially after she has been caught lying her tail off. @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/dropoutnation/status/1335268146492674052

Especially when you look at data by states requiring schools to report COVID infections. Consider Florida (which has the least-reliable data because Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration have been caught numerous times fudging data). @DrStevePerry

https://twitter.com/GeoRebekah/status/1339408561571557388

Which brings up a new report noting how infection rates increased once school buildings reopened. @DrStevePerry
adc.bmj.com/content/archdi…

Now, Steve, you know you have my utmost respect. But the data doesn't agree with your assertion that school buildings can safely open during periods of high community spread.

We can agree to disagree and keep it moving.

https://twitter.com/DrStevePerry/status/1348647010795065345