, Columnist
Keeping Kids Out of School Is the Right Idea
Children have a low mortality rate from the coronavirus, but they still spread it. School shutdowns can help intensive-care units avoid being overwhelmed.
Home time.
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The coronavirus epidemic has forced governments to make difficult choices. One of the hardest — and perhaps most symbolic — is whether to shut down schools to contain the contagion.
Any generalized lockdown would inevitably take a toll on the children and their working parents. The limited evidence we have, however, shows that this measure can be effective in slowing down an outbreak. In turn, this could provide much-needed respite to hospitals, which are coming under severe pressure as the virus continues to spread.