# Opening schools **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [May 21, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247 "2020-05-21T15:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 45
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/882 "2020-08-09T08:14:46Z")
Here’s something I’m wondering. Why would Kansas need 1100 pages worth of reopening guidelines? Man, how many schools are even in Kansas? > TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ governor says she will delay the reopening of the state’s K-12 schools for nearly a month until after Labor Day because of a resurgence in reported coronavirus cases that has given the state its worst weeklong spike since the pandemic began. > > Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced her plans Wednesday, only hours after **the State Board of Education approved roughly 1,100 pages of reopening guidelines** for local boards of education. [https://apnews.com/d0b55a87e982fc541df15e9182d1bc06](https://apnews.com/d0b55a87e982fc541df15e9182d1bc06) ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/883 "2020-08-09T13:31:15Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I don’t see that. I’ve got a G5 student. I’d still like to see him in school 1 day in 5, or 1 week in 5, or on random occasions suddenly announced the night before – if we had to suddenly cancel a day of work, or all work, it wouldn’t be any worse than having to cancel all work all the time. As a teacher, I think stability is incredibly important. The reason spring went so badly is that we had no time to plan at all: we went from never considering closing school to school being closed in 2 days, and even then, we were told at first to plan on being home at most a few weeks. So we made bridge plans instead of “new reality” plans. Even this summer, the lack of direction makes planning impossible. Do I plan an all virtual program? A hybrid? An in-person but with strict social distancing rules? My science teacher friends are going crazy because they have no idea what to do about labs. What you do if kids are at home is really different than hybrid is different than 5 days a week. And these things have to be planned in advance. Do we spend money on a virtual lab program or on a personal set of lab supplies for each kid (sharing goggles seems right out)? Do we invest in learning platforms or plexiglass? I’ve about decided I am going to plan a curriculim that is 100% virtual, and if that means some kids are following me on a chromebook while sitting in the class where I am teaching, that is what it is. I can’t right plans for if we are at school and a separate set for if we are home, along with variants for kids who are home while we are at school and for times when I am home (quarrentined) and kids are at school. We are going hyvrid, so half my kids will be home and half will be at school each day. Unless we start virtually, which we may. Originally, I thought I’d use my “at school” time in a more specific and directed way, but now I think I need to just make it all distance, and take in school as a bonus. But it won’t be anything like “normal” school. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/884 "2020-08-09T21:09:52Z")
Some news on children and the coronavirus. > **[MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/97-000-kids-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-two-weeks-report-says/ar-BB17J8T7)** > [@](#): > > 97,000 kids test positive for COVID-19 in two weeks, report says > > Nearly 100,000 children tested positive for [the coronavirus](https://www.cbsnews.com/coronavirus/?ftag=MSF0951a18) in the last two weeks of July, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics finds. Just over 97,000 children tested positive for the coronavirus from July 16 to July 30, according to the association. > > Out of almost 5 million reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S., CBS News’ Michael George reports that the group found that more than 338,000 were children. Although adults are 20 times more likely to receive hospital care for Covid-19, if a child does go to the hospital for it, they are as likely to need ICU services as an adult. Still, the fatality rate is still much lower than adults. > **[One-third of children hospitalized with COVID-19 require ICU care, CDC says -...](https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2020/08/07/One-third-of-children-hospitalized-with-COVID-19-require-ICU-care-CDC-says/4941596822940/)** > > Roughly one in three children hospitalized with COVID-19 across the country have required treatment in the intensive care unit, according to figures released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. > [@](#): > > Roughly one in three children hospitalized with [COVID-19](https://www.upi.com/topic/COVID-19/) in the United States has required treatment in the intensive care unit, according to figures released Friday by the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932e3.htm?s_cid=mm6932e3_w). > > Hospitalized adults infected with the new coronavirus are admitted to the ICU at essentially the same rate, the agency said. > > However, adults are about 20 times more likely to need hospital care after getting infected than children, the CDC said. > **[Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Children Aged 18 Years...](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932e3.htm)** > > Add article description here. > [@](#): > > This report and others have found that, although one third of children hospitalized with COVID-19 were admitted to the ICU, the case-fatality rate remains low, even among children hospitalized with more severe COVID-19–associated complications, such as MIS-C ### [Coronavirus updates: CDC warns of dangerous COVID complication for children](https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article244822087.html) > [@](#): > > New reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggest that children may be more susceptible to the coronavirus than previously thought, indicating another potential risk for students going back to school in the fall. > > [The San Francisco Chronicle reported](https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/More-children-stricken-with-COVID-19-inflammatory-15468682.php) that there are 29 patients under 18 in California suffering from severe responses to COVID-19 that affect multiple areas of the body, known as multi-system inflammatory syndrome. > > Although most cases of coronavirus in children are relatively minor, there are increasing numbers of cases that show these severe symptoms. > > The inflammatory response, [also referred to as MIS-C](https://www.cdc.gov/mis-c/), can cause inflammation in the heart, lungs, kidney, brain, and other major organs, often resulting in symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC. > > Public health officials have received reports of[570 confirmed cases of MIS-C](https://www.cdc.gov/mis-c/cases/index.html)across the country, and a total of 10 deaths in children who developed the condition. [old report date but updated numbers in the report as of 8/6/20] [https://www.cdc.gov/mis-c/cases/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/mis-c/cases/index.html) In some places, there are teacher shortages. [https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/dozens-of-martin-county-school-employees-resigned-in-july-weeks-before-schools-reopen/2275010/](https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/dozens-of-martin-county-school-employees-resigned-in-july-weeks-before-schools-reopen/2275010/) > [@](#): > > Several teachers in Martin County made it clear they were not ready to return to classrooms during the coronavirus pandemic, as dozens of employees have chosen to resign or retire weeks before the school year was set to begin. > > According to the Martin County School District, 28 employees submitted their resignations during the month of July. > . . . > On top of this, the district says over 400 substitute teachers have decided not to return to campuses until those vacancies are filled. Princeton University has reversed course from last month’s decision and will no longer be providing learning on campus for the fall semester. > **[Fall 2020 update: Undergraduate education to be fully remote](https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/08/07/fall-2020-update-undergraduate-education-be-fully-remote)** > > In a message to the University community, President Eisgruber writes that the pandemic’s impact prevents a genuinely meaningful on-campus experience for undergraduates   > [@](#): > > In a message to the University community, President Eisgruber writes that the pandemic’s impact prevents a genuinely meaningful on-campus experience for undergraduates ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/885 "2020-08-09T23:13:12Z")
First day of school here will be 8 Sep for 1-12 and 14 Sep for pre-K and K. They seem to have decided to at least start with one group of kids in the classroom on Mon-Tue and the other group on Thu-Fri. Wonder how well that’s going to turn out… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/886 "2020-08-10T01:42:36Z")
> **[North Paulding High remains closed a third day after COVID cases](https://www.ajc.com/education/9-cases-of-covid-19-reported-at-north-paulding-high-school/OWH6MN7DZ5A2XDQMXX337AQEWI/)** > > The Georgia school that became infamous for hallways crowded with unmasked students reported a half-dozen students and three staffers with coronavirus. This is the school where the students were suspended for taking the picture of the hallway crowded with maskless students. All of this screams “we’re making shit up as we go” to me. But I guess it is better than “we’re going to stay open no matter what!” ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/887 "2020-08-10T02:15:41Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > This is the school where the students were suspended for taking the picture of the hallway crowded with maskless students. All of this screams “we’re making shit up as we go” to me. But I guess it is better than “we’re going to stay open no matter what!” Good to see they also decided to lift the suspension for the students who posted pictures of the crowded hallways on social media. Nothing quite like shooting the messenger! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/888 "2020-08-10T04:47:24Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Confirm that it was a parent who called the media Do you have a link to the parents on the news decrying the decision by the school? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/889 "2020-08-10T14:20:48Z")
Are you skeptical that the suspension would have occurred over the parents’ objection? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/890 "2020-08-10T17:55:42Z")
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeObNUpg0D/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeObNUpg0D/) Unfortunately, this is likely the realistic level of PPE required for staff and students to be on campus. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/891 "2020-08-10T23:25:40Z")
Tell us more, Gov. Kemp! > **[Georgia governor: School openings going well except photos of crowded hallways](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/10/georgia-crowded-schools-governor-393151?cid=apn)** > > Photos shared widely on social media last week showed hallways packed shoulder to shoulder at a school northwest of Atlanta. > [@Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA)](#): > > I think quite honestly this week went real well other than a couple of virtual photos. “See, they weren’t even real photos, folks! They’re just virtual photos! they don’t even really count!” 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/892 "2020-08-11T00:13:12Z")
> **[Job Posting: Middle School Language Arts Teacher/ Cheerleading Coach/...](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/job-posting-middle-school-language-arts-teacher-cheerleading-coach-custodian-nurse-covid-19-and-anti-racism-specialist-wanted)** > > Area School District is looking for a Language Arts Teacher/ Cheerleading Coach/ Custodian/ Nurse to help lead our COVID-19 and anti-racism instruc... ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/893 "2020-08-11T01:00:17Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “See, they weren’t even real photos, folks! They’re just virtual photos! they don’t even really count!” Viral. The word he should have said was viral. I guess that word doesn’t exist in his vocabulary. That may explain Georgia’s plan for reopening schools. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/894 "2020-08-11T02:58:58Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Unfortunately, this is likely the realistic level of PPE required for staff and students to be on campus. No bullet proof back pack? Schools in Modesto, CA were scheduled to open with distance learning today, but the website crashed, then continued crashing all day. > **['They should have had this ready' | Modesto students face distance learning...](https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/modesto/modesto-students-face-distance-learning-hurdles-on-first-day-of-school/103-7405da9b-ee95-47bf-83cf-792401079aee)** > > Students logging in at the same time for their first day of school were frustrated after the district website crashed at the start of their day. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/895 "2020-08-11T19:27:47Z")
> **[The Latest: China's community virus cases hit single digits](https://apnews.com/30fcdd7452850cf28dfe41af9ce76c61)** > > BEIJING — China’s newly confirmed community transmitted cases of coronavirus fell into the single digits on Wednesday, while Hong Kong saw another 33 cases of infection... 800 students and 42 staff members. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/896 "2020-08-11T20:23:40Z")
This is an article on the same report I posted in my last post, but I thought this article had a quote that was significant because of the source. According to the vice-chair of the AAP’s infectious diseases committee, there are roughly around 100 deaths of children from influenza each year. There have been 90 deaths of children from coronavirus in just the past few months. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/covid-19-cases-in-us-children-have-increased-by-90-in-the-last-four-weeks-report-says/ar-BB17OD09](https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/covid-19-cases-in-us-children-have-increased-by-90-in-the-last-four-weeks-report-says/ar-BB17OD09) > [@](#): > > Dr. Sean O’Leary, vice-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday that coronavirus cases in children should be taken seriously. > > “It’s not fair to say that this virus is completely benign in children,” said O’Leary. “We’ve had 90 deaths in children in the US already, in just a few months. Every year we worry about influenza in children, and there are roughly around 100 deaths in children from influenza every year.” In other news, 150 school employees tested positive for Covid-19 in Central Texas. The article has a breakdown by district. > **[More than 150 school employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in Central...](https://www.kvue.com/article/news/investigations/defenders/covid19-schools-central-texas-school-districts-defenders/269-bd6d983d-ec71-406e-bf8c-4288ef7f82ff)** > > As some students start to return to school, dozens of staff have tested positive at districts across Central Texas. Although Mayor de Blasio is saying that 75% of the city’s children will go back to classroom learning, some and perhaps many parents are keeping their options by not filling out the survey making a commitment to the option of schooling they’re choosing. > **[Just 131K Parents Commit To NYC’s Blended Learning Plan](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/08/10/nyc-schools-coronavirus-plan-de-blasio)** > > About 131,000 kids are confirmed for blended learning. > [@](#): > > Mayor Bill de Blasio struck a triumphant tone Monday morning when he declared almost 75 percent of the city’s 981,000 public, non-charter, schools students had decided to enroll in blended learning, which will see kids return to classrooms between 2 and 3 days a week. > > “Our kids have been yearning to reconnect with school, with their friends, with so many teachers and mentors they depend on,” de Blasio said. “We’re going to be ready to serve our kids in September.” > > But about 586,000 students (or about 80 percent of the 736,000 kids signed up for blended learning) were enrolled automatically because their parents did not submit a survey, and retain the right to switch to remote, DOE spokesperson Miranda Barbot confirmed. > > As many as 264,000 of New York City public school students opted not to return to classrooms this fall and only 131,000 parents have openly declared their intention to send kids back to school, officials said. > > Several parents, among them a PTA leader and DOE teacher, told NY1 they did not fill out the survey because they were seriously concerned about their children’s health and safety and wanted to keep their options open. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/897 "2020-08-11T21:38:44Z")
I suspect CNN misquoted Dr. O’Leary who surely knows that there are more than 100 child influenza deaths estimated each year. Or Dr. O’Leary had a brain fart. It happens to us all. [CDC numbers.](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html) 2018-19 0-4 yrs 266 5-17 yrs 211 2017-18 0-4 yrs 115 5-17 yrs 528 So on. Maybe he’s going not by those estimated numbers but only those officially reported? Still then looking at an average of 157 over the past four years (in each year’s “just a few months” of flu season). Not sure I’d even call even that number roughly around a hundred. It however certainly is not accurate to say that this virus is completely benign in children, just _relatively_ so. For the Texas cases. Texas is clearly in the Red Zone with (per 91-divoc) over 25 confirmed tested cases/100K/d 7d average, and a positivity rate of 22%! Which speaks to a dramatic undercount compared to the standard undercount. COVID ActNow quotes a slightly lower positivity rate but still way up there - but ICU capacity at dangerous risk of overload. Kids not in school yet but sho 'nuff screen employees who have been out in the community before entry, test any random group, and you will find them by the scores. Schools about to open are the _least_ of the problems going on there. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/898 "2020-08-11T22:55:24Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I suspect CNN misquoted Dr. O’Leary who surely knows that there are more than 100 child influenza deaths estimated each year. Or Dr. O’Leary had a brain fart. It happens to us all. > > [CDC numbers.](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html) > > 2018-19 > 0-4 yrs 266 > 5-17 yrs 211 > > 2017-18 > 0-4 yrs 115 > 5-17 yrs 528 > > So on. > > Maybe he’s going not by those estimated numbers but only those officially reported? Still then looking at an average of 157 over the past four years (in each year’s “just a few months” of flu season). Not sure I’d even call even that number roughly around a hundred. > > It however certainly is not accurate to say that this virus is completely benign in children, just _relatively_ so. [According to the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children.htm), from 2004-2005, the reported deaths of children from influenza have ranged from 37-187. The numbers from your last post are numbers from a mathematical model that estimates the under reporting of the flu. Since there are no mathematical models to simulate the under reporting of coronavirus, the apples to apples comparison would be the reported deaths which is what it seems Dr. Sean O’Leary, vice-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, used in his comparison. The article doesn’t quote him as talking about estimates. From the CDC report you quoted titled: **Estimated** Influenza Illnesses, Medical visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths in the United States — 2018–2019 influenza season bold added > [@](#): > > During the 2018–2019 season, 136 deaths in children with laboratory–confirmed influenza virus infection were **reported** in the United States bold added and that was a fairly high count. The previous season had a record high count at 172. > [@](#): > > A record number of children died from influenza this past flu season, federal health officials said Friday. > > One more death was reported this week, making 172 child deaths reported for the 2017-18 flu season, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/reported-flu-children-deaths.htm). > > “This number exceeds the 2012-2013 season, which previously set the record for the highest number of flu-related deaths in children reported during a single flu season (excluding pandemics),” the CDC said. Those numbers don’t match your numbers. In February 2020, the previous flu season was already at a record breaking pace with 105 deaths. > **[A record-breaking 105 US children have died from flu so far this season | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/health/child-flu-deaths-105/index.html)** > > So far this season,105 children have died from the flu, according to data released Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the highest number of child flu deaths at this point in the season since the CDC started keeping... > [@](#): > > So far this season,105 children have died from the flu, according to data released Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the highest number of child flu deaths at this point in the season since the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/pastreports.htm) started keeping records in 2004, except for the 2009 flu pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/899 "2020-08-11T23:21:36Z")
I inadvertently left out a quote from the CDC article that my comments were based on that might be helpful. > [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > [According to the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/children.htm), from 2004-2005, the reported deaths of children from influenza have ranged from 37-187. > > The numbers from your last post are numbers from a mathematical model that estimates the under reporting of the flu. Since there are no mathematical models to simulate the under reporting of coronavirus, the apples to apples comparison would be the reported deaths which is what it seems Dr. Sean O’Leary, vice-chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, used in his comparison. The article doesn’t quote him as talking about estimates From the CDC article quoted above:: > [@](#): > > While relatively rare, some children die from flu each year. Since 2004-2005, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons have ranged from 37 to 187 deaths. Even though the reported number of deaths during the 2017-2018 flu season was 187, CDC’s mathematical models that account for the underreporting of flu-related deaths in children estimate the actual number was closer to 600. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/900 "2020-08-11T23:40:33Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > … Those numbers don’t match your numbers. … [The exact source](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2019-2020/images/PedFlu31_small.gif). 110; 188; 144; 187 [![](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2019-2020/images/PedFlu31_small.gif) ](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2019-2020/images/PedFlu31_small.gif) Average of these last four years is 157 reported cases. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247/901 "2020-08-11T23:58:49Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > [The exact source](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2019-2020/images/PedFlu31_small.gif). > > 110; 188; 144; 187 > > Average of these last four years is 157 reported cases. I saw that. That’s why I included articles saying that the last several years have been record high numbers. Since the CDC has reported cases going back to 2004-2005, the 100 reported number average may be based on those years averaged. Since the low number is 37, the average for the last four years which, in some cases, were record high numbers each year, might be brought down substantially if there were more years closer to 37.. 100 would be in the ballpark. The higher numbers that were given as estimates which are closer to 500-600 are not in the ballpark. I was saying that the reported numbers don’t match your estimate numbers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247.md?page=44) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-schools/854247.md?page=46)