12 DECEMBER 3, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
The ever-changing pandemic
We’ve been fi ghting COVID-
19 in America for nearly a
year now, and we still do
not fully appreciate just how fl uid the
situation is.
Our standards and policies have
shifted around numerous times as
we dealt with infections and figured
out what worked and what didn’t
work when it comes to battling infections.
In many cases, we didn’t figure
out the right approach to one aspect
of COVID-19 until it was too late.
The de Blasio Administration’s
school reopening plan, developed in
the summer, used the best information
available at the time to develop
a “blended model” for bringing students
back to school, accompanied
with criteria to ensure the safe and
orderly closure of school buildings
in the event the city crossed 3
percent COVID-19 positivity over a
seven-day period.
But things changed rapidly in two
months thanks to the development of
rapid testing, and an improved ability
to pinpoint block-by-block where
COVID-19 cases have spiked.
Testing of in-person classes
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Mayor de Blasio made the right call to change his plan for public schools.
Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
also revealed low infection rates and
spread in elementary schools.
That trend bucked fears that the
virus would spread more easily
among children; it turns out that’s
not necessarily the case, at this
point.
After the city crossed the 3 percent
threshold on Nov. 18, Mayor Bill de
Blasio moved to close the schools. But
that led to protestations from parents
who suggested that the schools
were safer than first predicted,
and that not every New York City
neighborhood had spikes in cases
that would have otherwise necessitated
a closure.
On Sunday, the mayor changed the
plan — clearing the way for public
elementary schools to reopen as of
Dec. 7, but with stricter guidelines
for testing.
It was the right call by the mayor,
just as it was to initially close school
buildings back on Nov. 18. And
that’s only because our knowledge
of COVID-19 and our ability to track
it has dramatically changed in just
three months.
Let’s remember where we are — in
the middle of a pandemic, fighting a
virus we’re still learning about. Day
by day, week by week, our knowledge
will change — and when it does, so
will public policy.
It’s not because our experts are
flawed or stupid, or overhyping
the threat. It’s because they’re still
trying to figure it out — and it takes
time and research to do so.
Have faith, be patient and follow
their advice.
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