Editor’s note: Portions of this letter were published Tuesday in a story on Page A1.
These pediatricians of East Hawaii Island commend the tireless efforts of our community public health departments and school systems as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of schools for education is widely understood. Although, perhaps none of us fully grasped the critical role schools play in the overall health and well-being of children until they closed last March.
Although it was originally thought necessary to protect the health and safety of our community, it is clear now that shutting schools has had negative impacts on students and their families. Depression, suicide attempts, child abuse and domestic violence have skyrocketed dramatically nationwide and on the islands. Despite the best efforts of our teachers and aides, online distance learning cannot adequately provide personalized attention, equal learning opportunities, nutrition or the social and emotional benefits of attending school in person.
We cannot eliminate all the risks of contracting COVID-19, and it will likely be with us for some time. There are many factors on the islands that cause its continued spread. Where primary and secondary schools have opened in the United States, contracting COVID-19 has been shown to be more likely out in the community than in the schools.
Given these realities, our government leaders have prioritized which businesses, services and gatherings we value most. We believe schools deserve to be at the top of this list. Unless and until our state leaders impose stricter restrictions on nonessential businesses and gatherings, we advocate for schools to open now.
As fellow front-line workers, we empathize with the concerns of teachers, aides and staff about their own health and safety. We know we can mitigate the risks for all by combining several strategies recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Hawaii Department of Health.
School systems throughout the United States have already developed extensive plans and have been successful locally at implementing these safety measures that significantly reduce potential disease risk: 1) Frequent hand washing; 2) social distancing; 3) facial coverings; 4) recommending routine vaccinations, including for influenza; 5) screening for symptoms of COVID-19 at the door; and 6) grouping children and staff into smaller groups to limit the impact of quarantine and limit disease spread.
We understand that returning to in-person learning might not be the right decision for every family, and we wholeheartedly support families who choose to continue with online learning. We are ready and willing to discuss these options with families. But families need to have a choice.
As a pediatric community, we are available to schools for phone consultations, and we will direct schools to timely in-person evaluations and COVID-19 testing when appropriate. We fully expect there to be cases that will require groups of students and staff to quarantine and switch to online learning. We will gladly partner with schools as requested, and we will continuously monitor the situation and adjust our recommendations as needed.
These pediatricians of East Hawaii Island strongly recommend that the keiki of Hawaii return to full-time, in-person learning without delay. Schools are essential for the mental, physical and social well-being of children. Given our greatly improved understanding of COVID-19, its minimal impact on children and low transmission rates within schools, and the rollout of an effective vaccine, we stand together in support of the initiatives, actions and funding needed to open our schools.
We cannot allow the children of Hawaii to continue to carry the burden of this disease alone, isolated at home, falling further behind while the rest of the community continues to progress toward normalcy. Our children must be our No. 1 priority.
Lauren H. Stuart, MD, FAAP
Miki Cain, DO, FAAP
Darrett Choy, MD, FAAP
Joseph D’Angelo, MD
Ty DeSilva, MD, FAAP
Diana Linderoth, MD, FAAP
