Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has criticized a local county’s decision to ban private schools from reopening for in-person instruction.
“I strongly disagree with Montgomery County’s decision to mandate the closure of private and parochial schools,” Hogan, a Republican, said in a statement on Aug. 1.
“As long as these schools develop safe plans that follow CDC and state guidelines, they should be empowered to do what’s best for their community. This is a decision for schools and parents, not politicians.”
A day earlier, Montgomery County’s top health official directed nonpublic schools to remain closed through Oct. 1, out of fear of spreading COVID-19.
“At this point, the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers,” Dr. Travis Gayles, Montgomery County health officer, said. Public schools had already been designated as online-only for the fall semester.
Gayles made the determination on the same day Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield told Congress that it’s in the public health best interest for K–12 students to get back to face-to-face learning.
“There’s really very significant public health consequences of the school closure,” Redfield said.
“We’re seeing an increase in drug use disorder, as well as suicide in adolescent individuals. So I do think it’s really important to realize, it’s not public health versus the economy about school opening—it’s public health versus public health.”
The CDC has released school reopening guidelines that include recommendations for social distancing, wearing masks, and hygiene measures.
The rate of positive tests in Maryland is at 4.6 percent of total tests in the state, and the number of hospitalizations has decreased.
“Total current hospitalizations have declined to 553, with 129 ICU beds in use,” Hogan wrote on Twitter on Aug. 2.
The state has about 1,200 ICU beds and about 10,000 hospital beds in total, according to the American Hospital Directory.
Friends Read Free