Letter to the editor: Sacrificing our children for safety of adults

According to the Centers for Disease Control, between Feb. 1 and July 25, 52 children under age 15 have died as a result of covid-19 nationally. For perspective, 105 children died of influenza over the same period. In Allegheny County, there have been 769 confirmed cases of covid-19 in people ages 19 and under. There have been zero deaths. According to these statistics, covid-19 does not pose a significant risk to school-age children.

The school year will begin in a few weeks, and the experience for our children will be very different than what any of us remember. Under current state regulations, students and their teachers will be required to stay 6 feet apart as much as possible. When this is not possible, they will be required to wear masks. Forget about a reassuring smile and a warm embrace from a veteran kindergarten teacher to comfort a homesick 5-year-old. Forget about school as we know it.

Are these measures worth it? Maybe — maybe not. Maybe it will help to slow community spread. But let’s not tell ourselves it is “for the safety of the children.” The children are being forced to sacrifice for the safety of the adults.

Jake Stilley

Hempfield