The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for opening schools that endorsed physical attendance — aligning the agency more closely with President Donald Trump’s views on the subject, even as the world’s largest economy struggles to contain surging COVID-19 cases.
Concerns about reopening are widespread. Schools have become a central focus as fall approaches, with districts across the country scrambling to find — and fund— appropriate plans. However, no consensus has been reached, and Trump himself softened his position on Thursday by saying hot zones should delay reopening plans.
“This guidance is intended to aid school administrators as they consider how to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of students, teachers, other school staff, their families, and communities and prepare for educating students this fall,” the agency wrote, outlining a lengthy list of mitigation strategies to prevent more spreading.
The CDC’s recommendations comes as the nation remains deeply divided on how to reopen schools safely, and in the wake of the president’s criticism of the agency’s earlier guidance. Polls show that many parents remain nervous about sending their children back into schoolhouses, even as many criticize the remote learning process and at least one panel of experts has urged a full reopening.
With less than 2 months to go until the academic year begins, the U.S.’s confirmed infection numbers continue to climb, once again topping 70,000 per day amid a global count of nearly 16 million. This week, America topped 4 million total cases, led by surges in the Sun Belt.
Among the largest states, California and Florida remain a concern. The Sunshine State recorded more than 12,000 cases with a positivity rate of more than 16%, while hospitalizations hit a new record on Friday. Deaths in Florida are starting to climb again after a brief pause, following the trend of lagging a rise in cases by a few weeks.
The relentless spread has forced the president to publicly acknowledge certain realities associated with social distancing — which this week led for him to back face coverings in public. On Thursday, Trump also announced the GOP was moving the Republican National Convention from Jacksonville, Florida back to North Carolina, as well as shifting to more virtual segments for the convention — something some observers said was ironic given his position on opening schools.
In his briefing, Trump called for the reopening of the economy, but also said a full nominating convention was “not the right time. I have to protect the American people.”
Drug pricing
Despite what appeared to be a reprieve on the drug pricing debate, which had been moving through Congress prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Trump is reportedly signing an executive order Friday to address the issue.
The timing caught drug companies and lobbying groups off guard, as they had been enjoying the spotlight for their efforts to battle the coronavirus— whether through diagnostics, treatments or a vaccine search.
The Trump administration previously revealed a plan to reduce drug costs, and Trump was previously reported to be looking at three executive orders earlier this month.
Trade groups representing the industry are awaiting the final language of the order before publicly commenting, they’ve said in response to requests from Yahoo Finance.
Anjalee Khemlani is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @AnjKhem
More from Anjalee:
-
Fauci: WHO ‘imperfect but important’ as coronavirus controversies batter agency
-
FL teacher explains why she retired because of coronavirus, doubts safe return to schools
-
How protests spurred Corporate America into action on race, inequality
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube.
