Closed schools and loss of women in the workforce are a ‘national emergency’, says Biden

Biden told CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell that he believes it’s time for schools to reopen safely ‘, ahead of this week’s expected release from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The president’s comments come amid a national debate over when and how to get students safely back into the classrooms as the pandemic continues to devastate the country and force many classes completely online. They also come because women, especially black and Latina women, suffer strong job losses as they work excessively in some of the hardest hit sectors in the pandemic, including education.

“About 20 million American children have not been in the classroom for almost a year. There has been a mental health crisis,” O’Donnell said.

“There really is,” Biden said, nodding.

“Women are falling out of the workforce,” O’Donnell continued. “Is this a national emergency?”

“This is a national emergency,” Biden replied. “It really is a national emergency.”

“I think it’s time for schools to reopen safely. Safe,” the president said. He pointed out that the number of people allowed in each classroom, and the proper ventilation systems are reduced as examples of the necessary protocols.

Biden said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dr. Rochelle Walensky, already on Wednesday with the guidance, which he described as ‘scientific judgment’, would come out.

“I think about the price, so many of my grandchildren and your children are going to pay because they did not have the chance to finish whatever it was. The graduation ceremony where you could not walk the stage,” Biden said. said.

Walensky said Monday the best way to get schools reopened safely is to reduce the spread of the community, and to keep mitigation measures such as masking and social distance.

“The data from schools indicate that there is very little transmission within the schools, especially if there is masking and distance. And if there are broadcasts in the schools, it is because it was brought out of the community and because there are violations in masking and distanced, ‘Walensky said during an information session in the White House.

Last week, Walensky suggested that schools could reopen without teachers getting Covid-19 vaccines. White House press secretary Jen Psaki initially said Walensky spoke “in her personal capacity” and said that Walensky, although the head of the CDC, did not comment on her comments as the official CDC leadership. But Psaki seems to agree with Walensky later, saying vaccinations are only part of several mitigating factors that could help schools reopen safely, including wearing masks and social distance.

Part of the $ 1.9 billion Covid-19 aid package proposed by Biden to Congress includes additional funding for schools to work safely in person. Biden has also signed several executive actions to help reopen schools and put in place a national strategy to bring the pandemic under control.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert in infectious diseases, recently warned that the reopening of most schools within 100 days “may not happen”, as the US is still struggling with high Covid-19 transmission. The coronavirus pandemic killed more than 463,500 Americans as of Monday morning.