In fall 2020, we noticed that local public-school teachers (who were all out of the classroom) were getting COVID more than the in-person teachers in those nonpublic schools that had opened. By spring 2021, the numbers were in, and it turned out that children in remote learning had gotten COVID at 3 times the rate of children enjoying in-person learning.

How could that be? Again, students don’t cease existing when school is closed. Teachers do not remain hermetically sealed in some classroom closet when school is out. People are people, and they do things. It’s entirely possible that school is far safer COVID-wise than its alternative because classrooms are organized for social distancing.

Keeping schools closed this week and next may increase family travel in this time and increase the amount of time children spend playing video games in a friend’s basement whose ventilation is likely inferior to that of a classroom.

Closing schools during this winter/omicron wave will make sure nobody gets COVID in school. Instead, they’ll get it outside of school.