Friday, 17 July 2020_The White House says that “science should not stand in the way” of schools reopening, as the coronavirus pandemic continues unabated across the United States.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany emphasized that schools reopening this fall should not be contingent on science pertaining to the virus, but then claimed the "science is on our side here."
When asked about what President Donald Trump would tell parents who have children in school districts that may be online-only, McEnany said, “The president has said unmistakably that he wants schools to open. And when he says open, he means open in full, kids been able to attend each and every day at their school.”
She went on to say that "the science should not stand in the way of this,” noting it is "perfectly safe" to fully reopen all classrooms.
She also claimed "science is on our side," citing one study that said critical illness is less risky than the seasonal flu in children.
She then quoted former Stanford Neuroradiology Chief Dr. Scott Atlas, who once on Fox News described the debate around reopening schools as "hysteria."
"We encourage localities and states to just simply follow the science, open our schools," she continued.
The Trump administration has been trying to reopen schools under the premise that children under the age of 18 "are at very low risk" if they get infected with the virus.
Some experts, however, have warned that returning to classrooms might be dangerous as students could carry the virus home to older relatives.
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