Coronavirus Cases Surge in Pennsylvania will force students to Online Learning

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Some reports in Pennsylvania have pointed to the experts at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab. The experts have said they are recommending that schools or families should voluntarily move students to online learning in areas with rapidly accelerating transmission rates. The online learning is beginning from 16^th November until 7-10 days after Thanksgiving as coronavirus cases rise to alarming levels in Pennsylvania. The Policy Lab said the move to virtual learning should be prioritized for students in middle and high school. The CHOP’s Policy Lab issued a statement and said, “While we have seen increasing infection rates among child care and elementary-aged youth, their relative contribution to community burden of infection remains small”.

The statement also said, “Therefore, decisions about distanced learning for younger children should be made at a local level and be responsive to the identification of linked transmission within school settings in that community”. Point to be noted that the Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine indicated that there were no plans for a blanket statewide school closure. She said the issue is discussed by state officials on a regular basis. Levine said, “At this time, we do not plan, absolutely do not plan, to have a general school closure as we had in the spring”. Her statement came as Pennsylvania is reporting the highest number of new cases since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is noteworthy that the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 4,711 additional positive cases of the COVID-19 virus on Wednesday. It marks the statewide total to 243,368 and considered the highest daily increase of cases. At least 59 new deaths were reported on Wednesday and brought the state’s total to 9,145 deaths due to COVID-19. PSEA President Rich Askey pointed to the level of community spread, which is at a substantial level in 38 counties. Askey said, “The state departments of Health and Education developed these guidelines based on good science and what the infection rates are in a school’s community. We must follow these guidelines to the letter. It’s the best way for us to slow the spread of this virus and keep our students, staff, and their families safe”.