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A new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus made its way to Washtenaw County earlier this month. Since then, 13 cases have been confirmed in the county, and all University of Michigan athletic programs have been put on pause. WEMU s David Fair discussed the latest information with Washtenaw County Health Department spokesperson Susan Cerniglia.
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NY: Schools can t require parents to consent to COVID testing before letting kids back in classroom
With New York City middle school students returning to schools on Monday, new state guidelines will allow even more children back in the classroom.
By: WPIX Staff
and last updated 2021-02-18 08:52:08-05
NEW YORK CITY â With New York City middle school students returning to in-person learning on Monday, the state has banned Mayor Bill de Blasio from requiring parents to fill out forms consenting their children to random COVID-19 testing as a pre-requisite for returning to the classroom.
In a letter obtained by Scripps station WPIX in New York City on Tuesday, New York Assistant Education Commissioner Kathleen DeCataldo wrote, parent/guardian consent for COVID-19 testing of students may not be a condition of in-person learning or other school activities.
Dr. Howard Markel
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Dr. Howard Markel from the University of Michigan sees he now believes the COVID-19 pandemic is very different from the pandemic of 1918 now that we re seeing a downward trend in cases and deaths from the virus. He blames the lack of vaccines in Washtenaw County and elsewhere around the state and around the country on the last presidential administration, which he says did not buy enough vaccines or plan ahead for what would be necessary to address the problem. Dr. Markel found it interesting but wasn t sure why there are no confirmed cases of influenza in the community at a time where it typically peaks. He said, The most predictable thing about a pandemic is their unpredictability.
Despite calls for the resumption of in-person learning in the Ann Arbor public school district during the ongoing pandemic and a March 1st recommendation