WASHINGTON: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President Donald Trump of"messing with" children's health on Sunday and said federal guidelines on reopening schools amid the coronavirus outbreak should be mandatory.
"The president and his administration are messing with the health of our children," Pelosi said."We all want our children to go back to school, parents do and children do. But they must go back safely." In an interview with CNN, DeVos said children get the virus at a far lower rate than adults and downplayed the risk of children bringing the virus home to teachers, parents, grandparents or caregivers.
Her comments drew an immediate rebuke from Pelosi, who said the Trump administration's approach to school reopenings was dangerous.Facing a battered economy as he seeks re-election in November, Trump has pressured states to reopen shuttered businesses and schools. CDC recommendations for schools include testing for COVID-19, dividing students into small groups, serving packaged lunches in classrooms instead of cafeterias, and minimising sharing of school supplies.
Schools superintendent Scott Brabrand said it was impossible for the district to get all 188,000 kids back in the classroom while honoring the six-foot distancing guideline.