Tennessee is in the spotlight as it reports that children account for 36% of the state’s COVID-19 cases. As the U.S. grapples with the highly contagious Delta variant and schools resume in-person learning, unvaccinated populations, particularly children, are facing an alarming rise in infections. Health Commissioner Lisa Thompson noted, “We recorded 14,000 pediatric cases in just the last week, marking a 57% increase from the previous week.” Historically, cases among children have been in the 10 to 15% range.
Despite the concerning rise in pediatric infections, Tennessee’s governor has not implemented necessary COVID-19 safety measures to protect children. Earlier this month, Governor Jake Foster signed an executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of mask mandates in K-12 schools, effectively undermining any local mandates. He argued that “no one understands a child’s health better than their parents.”
In a contradictory statement, Foster recently advised that children should wear masks in schools to enhance safety: “To protect your child from the virus or quarantine, the best approach is for them to wear a mask at school. However, I believe parents should make that choice.” This seems to imply that while wearing masks is wise, the governor defers to parents who may be influenced by misleading information online.
Unfortunately, the situation in Tennessee remains precarious, as many schools lack mask mandates, and only 41% of the state’s population is vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in the country. When asked about the possibility of reinstating virtual learning options for schools, Foster stated, “We do not have any plans to do that yet.” This is particularly troubling as numerous schools are forced to shut down or enter quarantine due to rising cases.
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In summary, with children now comprising a significant portion of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee, the lack of protective measures and low vaccination rates raise serious concerns about their safety as schools resume in-person learning.
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