When COVID first came on the scene we didn’t know much about it, so, as granted, there was reason for concern. Eventually, data started surfaced suggesting COVID’s death rate wasn’t something similar to that of Smallpox, and thankfully, it was looking like young people and children were least effected by the virus. Government entities locked down anyway and gambled that the benefits of lockdown may outweigh the costs. Speaking economically, this didn’t work–the monetary impacts of lockdown and other COVID restriction still plague the United States.
Economics are probably the most talked about among the slew of Build Back Better and supply-chain media coverage. Debate among COVID Safeists and “the unvaccinated” about mask and vaccine efficacy is likely the second most covered. Little comparable attention from either side (though, conservative parties have caused more of a ruckus in relation to their counterparts) has been given to children and what COVID lockdown has meant for them. Perhaps two year-olds could think masks are an anatomical feature.
The CDC has been an overt advocate of COVID regulation and restriction, so it’s surprisingly to see they report results that suggest virtual learning has negatively impacted that lives of children. Early last year they published a study comparing children between ages 5–12 who received in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual schooling as reported by their parents. Out of the four metrics of anxiety, depression, change in mental/emotional health, and psychological stress–children who received the fully virtual instruction had the worst scores. In only one category did they have a better experience than in-person children: psychological stress.
Yet, still are masses of teachers pulling for more virtual learning despite these CDC findings and when free vaccines are available. Massachusetts teachers pled in a recent statement that “… returning students to school on Monday will inevitably make the crisis much worse“.
It’s uncertain what safety threshold must be reached for the children they teach to be considered more–and perhaps the Massachusetts parents are catching on considering the shy-rocketing homeschooling rates.
A similar story can be told over in the UK. Cambridge scientists conducted a study with 168 children between ages 7–11, assessing the children’s mental health before and after lockdowns. Depression rates were elevated in the children during the COVID lockdowns, and the researchers say in their publication, “The current findings suggest that lockdown measures will likely exacerbate this [worsening mental health], specifically with an increase in childhood depression symptoms, something previously relatively uncommon in children of this age.” Depression doesn’t seem to be a good trade for a disease of mole-hill sized risk.
Last year, fears were floating among officials that lockdowns could increase child abuse rates. In Los Angeles, reports of child abuse were almost cut in half, but this may not be a sign of relief, it could be that children aren’t in school and the child abuse isn’t being spotted and reported to authorities. Regrettably, these fears were foreshadow. A group of researchers presented their study at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting showing that abuse cases tripled for children over 5 years of age, and that the increase was seen after stay-at-home orders were issued to the public. Head injuries were most common, though burn injuries were in the mix, too, according to the research group.
But plummeting mental health and burn marks won’t be enough for COVID alarmists. And, once again, government has proven their oversight inadequate, and their refusal to lift restriction sooner is complicit. Rational voices were vocal about how lockdowns would impact the children. These voices were branded “anti-science” and casted as apathetic in the liberal media.
As of last week, it appears the higher ups are beginning to change their tune. Better late than never, and maybe one day we can hope for a time when government alarmists and Teacher’s Unions will heed common-sense warnings. But as long as every new variant is sensationalized that future doesn’t look bright.
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