White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday said schools reopening this fall should not be contingent on science surrounding coronavirus, but then claimed the "science is on our side here" as the pandemic continues unabated, a Guardian report read.
President Trump on July 7 said schools must reopen in Fall, even though he does not have the power to make a decision in the matter. The decision to open schools rests with state governors.
Schools, as per health experts are a hotbed of infections for both the students and faculty.
McEnany, while making the statement about schools reopening, quoted former Stanford Neuroradiology Chief Dr Scott Atlas, who has appeared on Fox News to call the debate around reopening schools "hysteria." "We encourage localities and states to just simply follow the science, open our schools," she continued.
The Trump administration has been pushing to reopen schools based on the premise that those under the age of 18 are at low risk if they contract the virus. Parents and educational professionals have expressed worry they may be in harm's way.
According to White House health adviser Dr Deborah Birx, the country has not been testing enough children to definitively conclude they won't drive up the transmission of the virus. Currently, more than 3.5 million people in the US have been tested positive for the virus.
Besides opening the risk of millions of children getting the virus, there is no surety as to whether or not school staff and children could constantly follow guidelines like wearing masks and maintain social distancing.
