Jeffrey I. Barke, M.D., in an article in American Thinker, had this to say about the risk to children of dying from COVID-19:

“As of June 3, 2020, the CDC reported that there have been 20 deaths in children in the U.S. due to COVID-19.  In my home county of Orange in California, no child has died due to COVID-19.  JAMA Pediatrics for May 11, 2020 had this to say: ‘Finally, it is important to emphasize that the overall burden of COVID-19 infection in children remains relatively low compared with seasonal influenza.’

“We have never closed schools or forced children to wear masks during an influenza season.  Yet the CDC has issued guidelines recommending face coverings for elementary school–aged children, social distancing, reduced classroom populations, and other suggestions that make little scientific or common sense.

“To put some of the COVID statistics into perspective: Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States.  In 2017, 675 children 12 years old and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and nearly 116,000 were injured.  In the same year, according to the CDC, drownings claimed the lives of almost 1,000 U.S. children.  That is 50 times greater than COVID-19!  As a result, would you favor closing down all swimming pools in the United States?”

A child, according to the CDC, is anyone under 18. Seems kind of old to me. Nonetheless, how many youngsters do you know who have drowned? A classmate of mine drowned while roaming in the storm sewers back 1988. Other than that, I can’t say I know of anyone. I’m sure most people would say the same. Now if dying from COVID-19 is 50 times less likely to happen… I really can’t see the harm in letting them go to school, as Dr. Barke suggests.

Dr. Barke was the Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice. You can read his full article on American Thinker.