Thread by @MonicaGandhi9

Written with @JVergales. Many ways to keep children safe in school, most notably high adult vaccination in 2021 but many mitigation procedures shown beneficial in 2020 (masks, ventilation, testing exposed, etc.). Quarantine without test-to-stay likely least effective

https://twitter.com/PostOpinions/status/1445389253593141251

Quarantining is by no means a new tool to curb the spread of illness. Descriptions of periods of isolation for those who may have come into contact with a highly contagious disease date to the 14th century as various plagues ravaged parts of Europe.

Ships sat for 40 days at ports until all contagion was thought to be cleared and the name stems from the Italian words quaranta giorni which mean 40 days. US used quarantine throughout the 19th and 20th centuries when epidemics of polio, tuberculosis
cdc.gov/quarantine/his….

influenza spread unchecked. Despite the profound effectiveness of quarantines in certain situations, negative socioeconomic, political, behavioral, nutritional and educational ramifications can permeate widespread and prolonged use, requiring the careful weighing of risk

and benefits. Throughout history, the benefit of quarantines have been weighed against its harms and modified accordingly. With test-to-stay, modified quarantine (masks), we can keep children safe but prolonged quarantines (10-14 d) adding to learning loss
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/19…

Masks in schools while we are waiting child vaccine can be lifted at low hospitalization rates as sign of low community transmission. But 5-11 vaccine EUA meeting this month (children grow up, so immunize before), MUST promise normal school with child vax
nytimes.com/2021/06/08/opi…

Don't read headlines; read piece. Honored to write this with @JVergales. Modified quarantines & test to stay working in so many places; time for @CDCgov to recommend this now please