Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said on Thursday that “there is a growing awareness that kids have to go back to school,” adding that safety measures must be in place to protect against the coronavirus.
"So, I think there is a growing awareness that kids have to go back to school. And, the only question is: how do we make sure we do it safely?" Alexander, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee, told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” on Thursday.
"One is distance: six feet apart. Two, wash your hands. And, three: masks. Those three things are about 90 percent of it. That, we know," he added
"And, that’s easier to do within [colleges] where there’s a lot more space. But, basically, that’s what the schools are working on," Alexander said. "So, they’ll be emphasizing hygiene. That’s not as easy, sometimes, for younger kids. There’ll be masks. Again, that’s harder for younger kids. And, there’ll be smaller classes, more distance."
The senator did note that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said that although “we can’t be cavalier” about reopening schools, the coronavirus appears to affect children less than the elderly or people with compromised immune systems, "So, a school could be among the safest [communities] that we have in the country. Plus: tests, tests, tests. There will be lots of tests."
He also said that "The single best thing we can do to help minority children [and] low-income children is to get them back in school. That's where they learn. That’s where they learn to deal with other children. That’s where many get one meal, sometimes two. That's the single most important thing we can do.”
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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