SOUTH BEND — Local health experts are urging schools to keep the doors open, despite their confirmation that a county resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus.
St. Joseph County Health Officer Dr. Robert Einterz said the health department is not recommending K-12 school system closures at this time based on three factors.
He said evidence suggests that school-aged children are at the lowest risk of contracting and becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and a building closure wouldn’t stop them from gathering together.
And, closing schools can cause economic and social disruptions, Einterz said, especially for children and their working parents, who depend on schools for child care and free and reduced-cost meals.
“Any sort of closing is a double-edged sword,” Einterz said during a news conference Wednesday. “On the one hand, it may prevent transmission of COVID-19 … but the economic and social consequences of the individuals being out of a job for two weeks, four weeks, six weeks can have very significant adverse health consequences.”
Currently, South Bend, Penn-Harris-Madison and Mishawaka schools officials say they plan to remain open and will continue to work with health officials to monitor the situation.
The health department’s recommendations to K-12 administrators came after the University of Notre Dame announced plans Wednesday to cancel in-person classes after spring break because of coronavirus concerns, following the lead of other schools including Indiana University, Purdue University and Michigan State University.
The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, announced the suspension of all in-person classes on campus beginning March 23 through at least April 13.
And to give faculty and students time to adjust to online classes and other alternative learning options, Notre Dame is canceling all classes — in person and online — next week (March 16-20).
The university is currently on spring break and students have been encouraged to stay home rather than come back to campus.
Notre Dame spokesman Paul Browne said there are currently no confirmed or reported cases of coronavirus involving students or staff, including those studying overseas.
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