We all want life to return to normal as soon as possible, but failing to take steps to prevent the spread of this virus will only stretch out the damage it does to our communities. Please do not send children back to schools until the virus is fully under control. As a parent, I want my children to be well educated, and I don’t want them to be put behind because of this crisis, but at the end of the day we have to look at the bigger picture and see that protecting lives is more important and an unhindered school year. If we were to send kids back in a business as usual fashion, we would undoubtedly see a large uptick in cases amongst children and the adults in their lives. If everyone is sick from COVID-19, who is going to be there to care for those kids, or teach them? 

Please, please, please put people first. We can rebuild our society together after the COVID crisis is over, if we all make it through. It will be so much harder if we lose lives needlessly through recklessness.