Letter to the editor: Risks of returning to school

In her column “The math of school safety and coronavirus,” Community Engagement Editor Lori Falce said she would not let her child return to school. She says the risk is too high given that there have been (at the time of writing) more than 7,200 covid-19 deaths in Pennsylvania, which is one out of every 1,758 residents. As further evidence, she cites the Florida Marlins baseball team, which had 17 players contract the virus in spite of all their resources.

Well, here are some other facts for Falce to consider. In Pennsylvania, there have been zero deaths under the age of 19. The majority of deaths have been in nursing homes, and the average age of death is over 80.

As for the Marlins, how many players died? How many were hospitalized? How many even knew they were sick? The answers are zero, zero and few had mild symptoms.

Falce must also be aware that youth baseball was played all summer, as the Tribune-Review sports department covered Bushy Run winning the Westmoreland County American Baseball League championship. Judging by the pictures in the paper, none of the players wore masks. How many of those kids died? How many were hospitalized? How many got sick? I think that answer is also zero, since it would have been front-page news had it happened.

It is Falce’s right as a mother to keep her child out of school. But as an editor with a large platform, she shouldn’t spread what I believe is irrational fear about the risks of returning to school.

Richard Parnell

Murrysville