The physical, academic and mental benefits of going back to school during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic outweigh health risks to students, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in an announcement issued earlier this summer.

Its "COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry," issued by the academy June 25, "strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school."

"The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020," the planning considerations said. "Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation."

Those problems, in turn, place students "at considerable risk of morbidity and, in some cases, mortality," the announcement continued. "Beyond the educational impact and social impact of school closures, there has been substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families."

The planning considerations admitted that "policymakers" must bear in mind "mounting evidence" about the short- and long-term effects of COVID-19 in school-aged children, including the role those children play in transmitting the illness.  SARS-CoV-2, commonly referred to as COVID-19, "appears to behave differently in children and adolescents" compared with other illnesses, the guidance report said.

"Although children and adolescents play a major role in amplifying influenza outbreaks, to date, this does not appear to be the case with SARS-CoV-2," it noted. "Many questions remain but the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection. Policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within schools must be balanced with the known harms to children, adolescents, families, and the community by keeping children at home."

Lone Star Standard reached out to the Texas Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics but received no reply.