Closing Schools Doesn’t Help Reduce COVID-19 Deaths

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on Study Finds.

As children in various states continue to adjust to remote learning, a new study finds heading back to class may not be such a concern after all. Researchers say closing schools during the pandemic does not significantly reduce the number of serious coronavirus infections and deaths.

The study, released by the American Institute of Physics, finds social distancing is most important when it comes to reducing severe COVID cases while creating minimal social disruption. School closures, the loss of public spaces, and having to work from home, on the other hand, have caused major disruptions in people’s social lives worldwide.

The new findings suggest curbing the rise in fatal coronavirus cases is possible without the need for such social disruptions.

“School only represents a small proportion of social contact,” study author Dr. Qingpeng Zhang says in a media release.

“It is more likely that people get exposure to viruses in public facilities, like restaurants and shopping malls. Since we focus here on the severe infections and deceased cases, closing schools contributes little if the elderly citizens are not protected in public facilities and other places.”

Researchers ran thousands of simulations on the pandemic response in New York City. The team revealed school closures are not largely beneficial in preventing serious COVID-19 cases.

Source: Study Finds
https://www.studyfinds.org/closing-schools-wont-help-covid-19/

Help us reach the next generation of families

Donate
Back to Top

[reposted by] Jim Liebelt

Jim is Senior Writer, Editor and Researcher for HomeWord. Jim has 40 years of experience as a youth and family ministry specialist, having served over the years as a pastor, author, consultant, mentor, trainer, college instructor, and speaker. Jim’s HomeWord culture blog also appears on Crosswalk.com and Religiontoday.com. Jim and his wife Jenny live in Quincy, MA.

  • About HomeWord

    HomeWord helps families succeed by creating Biblical resources that build strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids and healthy leaders. Founded by Jim Burns, HomeWord seeks to advance the work of God in the world by educating, equipping, and encouraging parents and churches. Learn More »

  • Support Our Mission

    HomeWord is non-profit, donor supported ministry. If you would like to partner with HomeWord in our effort to help more parents and families you can make a donation. Your investment will allow us to expand this ministry by offering more resources to families and churches in need.

  • Contact Information

    • HomeWord
      PO Box 1600
      San Juan Capistrano, CA
      92693

    • Send us an email

    • 800-397-9725
      (M-F: 8:30am-5pm PST)

Close