CRYSTAL LAKE – State Representative Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) says he understands that many people have concerns regarding the reopening of schools, but while he believes every death is a tragedy, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control clearly show that the mortality rate from SARS-COV-2 for school age children are minuscule.
From February to the present for children 5-14 years of age, 14 children have died from the virus. For ages 15-24, 157 died. The National Center for Educational Statistics had 2019 enrollment at 56.6 million for public and private PK-12 schools. That would make the mortality rate due to COVID 0.000003%, Skillicorn writes in a press statement.
For pneumonia and influenza in the same time period, 119 children 5-14 years of age died, while 318 passed in the 15-24 age group, making the flu two and a half times more fatal than COVID-19.
"We don’t shut down schools, or anything else for that matter, for the flu," Skillicorn said.
“Science says 'open the schools.' Those urging to keep schools closed are doing so for political reasons not scientific." Skillicorn continued, "The consequences associated with not returning to in-class instruction will be devastating to the development of children and our economy for parents who need to return to work.”
The Republican House member urges dissenting views to argue theirs with science against the following:
Pediatricians "Absolutely" Would Send Children Back To School In Fall, "Without Hesitation"
Dr. Scott Atlas and the Efficacy of Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and Closings
Skillicorn is confident that Illinois schools will operate as safely as they always have. For those children or teachers who may be vulnerable, online and homeschooling are options.
"As a vaccine may not be available for the foreseeable future, we must learn to live with this virus, and return to our lives as safely and rapidly as we can for the sake of our children, state, and nation," he said.
