EPIC IN THE NEWS
Are schools safe? A growing body of evidence suggests that, with the right measures, they contribute little to virus spread.
DATE: December 30, 2020
Researchers are getting more information about when and how schools can contribute to spreading the virus in the community. A study by researchers in Michigan and Washington state examined school and infection data, and found that when community infection rates were low, reopening schools did not seem to worsen the situation.
But that calculation changed when infection rates were high — like they are now in Washington, Michigan and wide swaths of the country. Then, schools did seem to contribute to community spread. According to the researcher’s metrics, both states now greatly exceed that threshold, which appeared to be around 5 to 15 new cases per 100,000 people. On Dec. 27, Michigan was reporting a 7-day average of 29 new cases per 100,000 people. That same day, Washington’s 7-day average was 28 cases per 100,000.
Read the full news article here.
