Thread by @phylogenomics

Reading: Children now playing 'huge role' in spread of COVID-19 variant, expert says abc7chicago.com/health/kids-no… via @abc7chicago

Given this, it is really ridiculous that schools are reopening all over the country but many, including those in my town #DavisCA (the @DJUSD) are not going to require testing. We have to have all the kids being tested regularly on top of doing other measures to limit spread

Attention @GavinNewsom @DJUSDSuptBowes - I really don't care what the excuses are, the only way we keep a lid on things in schools is if we know what is going on, and the only way we know what is going on is via testing

Testing people & environments will allow us to know if & when outbreaks happen and what strains are behind them and also will help with determining where they are weaknesses in protections and it is unacceptable for leadership to not make it mandatory and provide means to do so

And here is a story about #COVID19 outbreaks in Minnesota schools mprnews.org/story/2021/04/…

"In a statement, state epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield said the Minnesota Department of Health is growing concerned by the increase in cases among school-aged children and teens."

"Simultaneously, they’re seeing more hospitalizations. "

And in Tennessee: johnsoncitypress.com/news/johnson-c…

And in Flint, MI they are shifting back to remote learning due to #COVID19 increases abc12.com/2021/04/06/fli…

And in West Virginia herald-dispatch.com/coronavirus/co…

Again, I am not calling for people to bail on schools reopening or staying open. But they should only stay open or reopen if every single reasonable mitigation measure is used and most places are just not doing this ...

It is important to note that sports may play a big role in some of the spread via schools (e.g., see washingtonpost.com/health/2021/04…). Mandatory testing is becoming more common for students doing athletic activities but needs to be done in more places

Some places are being smart and making testing mandatory for all students doing in person learning - e.g. chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-pa…

And of course, if testing is to be required for students it needs to be required for all staff at the schools too ...

Also important to realize that children are not just potentially spreading #COVID19 via schools but also places like day care centers - e.g. recent outbreak at one in Wisconsin wpr.org/covid-19-outbr…

Yes, I still think it is critical we figure out ways to reopen / keep open schools. Yes, I think we can do this with low (but not no) risk. But this can only happen with major efforts on testing, masking, contact tracing & isolation, ventilation, filtering, distancing and more

Unroll @threadreaderapp

And now Toronto schools are closing cbc.ca/news/canada/to…

Some information from Montgomery County Maryland, where I grew up, on #COVID19 cases in schools mymcmedia.org/the-latest-cov…

Some information about DC schools and COVID19 from the @washingtonpost washingtonpost.com/local/educatio…

Tons of school related outbreaks across the country, many of which have been tied to youth sports activities news.bloomberglaw.com/coronavirus/bi…

In Greece, they are reopening high schools even while cases are high. But, they are requiring 2X / week testing for all greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/08/gre…

In NYC, testing is done randomly of at least 20% of a schools population per week. And for children to return to schools, parents must consent to testing (though w/ some exceptions) schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20…

More York region schools closing due to #COVID19 outbreaks. thestar.com/local-markham/…

Also worth checking this out - preprint that suggests that for B.1.1.7 suggests 0-19 year olds may experience "larger relative increase in infectiousness than other age groups." - check out thread here

https://twitter.com/SarahDRasmussen/status/1374118553650085892?s=20

Also worth checking this out

REACT study: Primary school children have highest COVID infection level openaccessgovernment.org/covid-infectio…

And note - in the England schools are reopening and testing is required. 2x / week on site initially and then at home. bbc.com/news/education…

And in England there are indications that reopening schools has led to increased transmission in communities and that the trend of decreasing cases has been reversed/slowed due to school reopening ft.com/content/e8b89c…

From today: relating to outbreaks in schools in Washington: 134 COVID-19 outbreaks linked to Washington state schools, according to new report thenewstribune.com/news/local/art…

And in Chicago: CTU wants reopening of high schools delayed one week, citing COVID-19 variant concerns chicago.suntimes.com/education/2021…

NC schools moving to more testing and recommending but not requiring testing:
NC's K-12 schools should conduct regular asymptomatic COVID-19 testing, DHHS says :: WRAL.com www-wral-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.wral.c…

This is very relevant USC study says we should be testing kids 2x/ week - h/t @trekkerteach12
nbclosangeles.com/news/schools-o…