No need to cancel Sacramento classes over coronavirus, but the kids do need hand soap

When 17-year-old Ulysses Figueroa created an online petition calling on the Sacramento City Unified School District to cancel all classes due to worries about the coronavirus, he never imagined it might get 6,000 signatures in two days.

“I was honestly surprised to get to over 5 thousand votes and to see that many other students had the same problems and concerns,” wrote Figueroa, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School, in an email to The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board. “I am not worried of getting the virus and getting sick. I am worried about the lack of hygiene products, lack of nurses, and those nasty bathrooms here.”

Figueroa’s petition, posted on Change.org on Sunday, calls on SCUSD to “suspend school until the virus is no longer a threat.” It also criticizes the district for an alleged scarcity of hand soap and paper towels.

Canceling class has always been – and probably will always be – a wildly popular idea with students. Yet Figueroa’s petition also reflects a growing anxiety about the coronavirus.

Authorities have confirmed several cases in the Sacramento area. An elderly Placer County man became the first Californian to die from the virus last week. Hand sanitizer has disappeared from store shelves as people have rushed to stock up. Panic shopping has resulted in a face mask shortage even though people who aren’t medical professionals or infected patients don’t need them. Business has dropped at Chinese restaurants as coronavirus fears morph into xenophobia. The stock market dropped by over 2000 points on Monday.

Public officials have urged calm, but not everyone can keep a cool head.

Last week, the Elk Grove Unified School District stunned local officials by abruptly canceling all classes. In a decision that took many by surprise, the district suspended classes at its 67 schools for one week after the family of one student was quarantined for having come into contact with the virus. Bee columnist Marcos Bretón called the decision “shocking” and blasted district officials for apparently making the decision without consulting county health officials. He also expressed concern that the rash decision might inspire others to panic.

It’s apparent from Figueroa’s popular petition that the Elk Grove decision did intensify student fears. Their fear is understandable, but public health officials say there’s no need to close schools at this time.

Figueroa’s petition demonstrates the anxiety young people feel as they witness adults – including the leaders of Elk Grove Unified and President Donald Trump – bungle the coronavirus response. Unfortunately, internet-based petitions – as earnest and well-intentioned as they might be – are no way to make public health decisions. To protect our communities, we must take our cues from public health officials and science rather than from panic.

California’s guidelines for schools, released Saturday, only recommend school closures in specific circumstances to be determined in consultation with public health officials. While school closures may become necessary, there’s no evidence of a need for preemptive school closures.

Figueroa’s petition does make an important point, however: Soap and water are the best defense against the spread of coronavirus. A spokesperson for SCUSD denied a soap and towel shortage in the district, insisting that “soap and towels are available to students and staff in all restrooms at all school and district sites.”

In a phone interview, Figueroa maintained that school bathrooms often lack necessary supplies. He said he plans to continue attending classes, just as all students should. But SCUSD should also redouble its efforts to ensure all students have access to the handwashing supplies necessary to stay healthy.

This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 10:00 AM.