Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has argued that re-opening the economy and schools from the coronavirus shutdown should not be a “one-size-fits-all” approach. “I don’t think you’re the end-all ” Paul tells director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Dr. Fauci has warned states and cities against reopening before being assured by the state government that they have the ability to manage a surge in COVID-19 cases. Though he has expressed optimism a vaccine will be developed in the next year or two, Fauci also testified that it is a ‘bridge too far’ for schools to expect a vaccine or widely available treatment for COVID-19 by the time students return to campuses in the fall.
Sen. Paul suggests an analysis in Sweden, a country that has not closed its schools, and argues that there’s been more people wrong with modeling that right when it comes to the pandemic. He then goes on to explain that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ model for the course of the virus is not going to work as a national strategy. Nobody going to school at all is a bit ridiculous. “We really ought to be doing it school district by school district, and the power needs to be disbursed, because people make wrong predictions.” Paul said.
Paul presents the respect he has for Dr. Fauci but that he shouldn’t be the only one making decisions here. We can listen to the Dr’s advice, but there are also people on the other side of the spectrum saying there’s not going to be a surge. We have to know what’s best for our economy and how to safely open it while having a little bit of humility in our belief.
“If we keep kids out of school for another year, what’s going to happen is the poor and unprivileged kids who don’t have a parent that’s able to teach them at home are not going to learn for a full year.” Paul says.
Dr. Fauci thanks Sen. Paul and explains that he is only a scientist, physician, and public health official giving advice according to the best scientific evidence. He then goes on to explain that we don’t know as much about the virus as we think we do. We’re learning more and more each day. Dr. Fauci says that he is reserved in making broad predictions based on the fact that we are seeing the virus do things that weren’t in China or Europe studies. He is pointing out an inflammatory syndrome that some officials have linked to coronavirus.
Sen. Paul has said it time and time again. We need to start opening schools and businesses up. The power needs to be disbursed because people are making the wrong predictions and we need to save our economy.
