Why NYC School Closures Might No Longer Be Needed
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A year ago, New York shuttered all of its schools to keep the coronavirus pandemic from spiraling out of control. The decision made sense at the time, as children have long been the drivers of respiratory outbreaks such as influenza, measles, and whooping cough. COVID-19 bucks these trends—with kids recording far fewer cases, hospitalization, and deaths than older adults
A new slate of studies and public health advisories now raises questions about whether New York schools should ever shutter again—except during the most extreme COVID-19 surges. Together, they find that school closures may not have effectively reduced severe COVID-19 cases and deaths as expected.