With COVID-19 cases on the rise again in Australia, the last thing you want to do is have places like restaurants and high schools from reopening too quickly. But in America, they do things a bit differently because not only are they’re stubbornly reopening high schools despite worrying COVID-19 numbers that are still rising dramatically, viral photos of these crowded reopenings don’t accurately capture just how bad the situation is.
Speaking of that viral pic of the crowded North Paulding high school reopening, the GOAT team talk about the importance of wearing face masks on ‘It’s Been A Big Day For…’ below:
Following the rushed reopening of North Paulding High School in Georgia, students shared several photos (confirmed by Insider to be from current and former students) showing the school being packed with students standing shoulder-to-shoulder, many of whom were not wearing face masks.
But as bad as these photos depict the situation – and boy is it horrendous wit the lack of face masks and blatant ignoring of social distancing rules – the reality is far worse than it seems on the surface.
According to a bombshell report by Buzzfeed News, students, teachers, and parents are already shitting a brick over the rushed reopening of North Paulding High School just days after students were forced to return – or face expulsion – due to several reports of positive COVID-19 cases among the crowded school community.
It is reported that several North Paulding football players tested positive COVID-19 following a workout just days before the high school reopened. Compounding the problem are reports from multiple teachers that several of the school’s staff also tested positive, some of whom were in contact with most of the teachers while still exhibiting symptoms.
Operating on the stupid policy of “face masks are optional,” it is reported that not everyone at the high school are wearing adequate protection. What’s worse is that the school knew before day one that several football players were sick with COVID-19, yet they still pushed forward.
Buzzfeed News‘ report also revealed that the communication and organisation behind-the-scenes at the high school was also a fustercluck. Students and teachers felt like they had no choice but to rock up to the school, even after confirmation of several positive COVID-19 tests, and the school reportedly kept teachers in the dark about who tested positive, citing “privacy concerns.”
Virtual learning for the students was also not possible for low-income students, students with poor internet, and many middle-class students because all the slots for the district were quickly filled, forcing them and teachers to attend the high school in person. What’s worse is that students who criticised the school on social media could reportedly face “disciplinary consequences.”
The level irresponsibility on show at this crowded high school reopening was so bad that a school nurse resigned from Paulding County Schools in July over safety concerns regarding COVID-19, saying that nurses were being asked to do too much with almost no proper plan in place.
Unsurprisingly, North Paulding High School and Paulding County Schools have yet to respond to this bombshell report and requests for comment regarding to those viral photos depicting the crowded school’s reopening. The entire report paints a harrowing picture of what happens when a high school reopens too quickly during a pandemic and you should definitely read it here.
As for what happens next, well who bloody knows at this point. It’s clear that America has no clue what to do and that doesn’t bode well for the many thousands of students and teachers paying the price for the country’s lack of leadership. In the words of a certain giant orange baby: “It is what it is.”
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