The article analyzes the prolonged school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a critical mistake with lasting repercussions. Initially instigated during a moment of panic, the closures were not calibrated to community transmission levels, violating CDC guidelines that emphasized tailored responses. The decision led to detrimental effects beyond academic loss, inflicting significant psychological and social strain on millions of families. It highlights the discrepancy between expected public health strategies and their execution, underscoring the need for more contextually appropriate responses in crises.
Of the many mistakes made in the COVID era, none were as glaring as prolonged school closures.
The closures began at a time of understandable panic, but that was only the beginning of the story.
At the time of the initial closures, in mid-March, COVID was spreading quickly, but large areas in the U.S. were absent any known cases.
The school closures that would be implemented the following month-and that endured through the end of the school year in nearly all of the roughly 13,800 school districts in the United States.
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