Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey won't even try to save kids from COVID-19

We know that the new omicron variant of COVID-19 is much more infectious than previous versions. We know that viruses thrive in winter. We know that over the next month or so the already record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases will rise. We know that hospitals around the nation, already filling up with adult COVID-19 patients, are beginning to see a disturbing increase in the number of children who are being admitted.

We know that children are returning to school after the holiday break.

We know that there are some things the government could do to protect those children.

And we know – based on past performance – that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey won’t do any of those things.

We know, for example, it might be wise to pause in-person schooling for a couple of weeks. Nothing major. Just a brief period of a few weeks to see where omicron is taking us and give parents more of an opportunity to get their children vaccinated.

We know Ducey won’t do that.

Unwilling to slow down the spread

We might, then, require proof of vaccination or of a COVID-free test before children or teachers are admitted back into the classroom, something that could protect everyone involved and encourage more parents to take advantage of the life-saving preventive measures available.

We know Ducey won’t do that, either.

We might – at the very least – impose a statewide indoor mask mandate, which a few school districts are doing on their own, something that will not prevent in-person learning, or shopping, or anything else, but which simply might help to slow down the spread of the disease.

And we know Ducey won’t even do that.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there has been a 66% increase in the number of children admitted per day to the hospital in the past week or so.

Some of the projection models suggest that around mid-January the nation as a whole could expect about 1 million cases of COVID-19 per day. Imagine the potential burden to our severely strained health care system. And already Arizona has one of the highest COVID-19 death rates in the nation.

We 'have a way to prevent this'

We know that although most children who contract the virus can recover at home that there is a good chance they will come into contact with others, who will have contact with others, who invariably will spread the illness to those much more vulnerable.

Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said “It’s just so heartbreaking. It was hard enough last year, but now you know that you have a way to prevent all this.”

Some people still refuse the vaccine, however. And refuse to allow their children to get it.

Fine.

But with no mask mandates or vaccine mandate Arizona could, at the very least, follow the example of a place like Washington, D.C., where all students and staff must provide proof they are Covid-negative before re-entering schools.

We know two things about a preventive measure like that.

We know it could help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

And we know Ducey won’t do it.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey won't even try to save kids from COVID-19