Within the last 24 hours 14,316 Marylanders have tested positive with COVID-19. These numbers do not include those that have not been tested and are showing symptoms, those that may be positive and are asymptomatic and some who have not reported their positive home testing results to the CDC. 

Even though in March 2020 the virus was new and without vaccines, all schools closed with a 6% positivity rate. Currently the positivity rate in MD is 20% in climbing leading us to believe that more individuals & families will be impacted by the virus. Since the virus was detected in Maryland 114,418 school aged children have contracted the virus, some with lingering symptoms. Currently,  76 of the Maryland hospitalizations are school aged children. 

As a parent with a child who is Autoimmune Compromised, I fear for the safety and well-being of all students and staff in Maryland Public Schools. 
Our children are sitting in classrooms of at least 25-30 students with limited space for social distancing. 
Most schools are overcrowded and have limited staff and assistants due to rising COVID-19 cases. 

Following the holiday season with citizens traveling, spending time with loved ones and gathering in large social settings I feel that it would be beneficial to at least allow a 2 week period for families, students and staff to receive testing, recover from positive diagnosis and properly quarantine or isolate due to possible exposure. While virtual learning is not ideal for all students/parents I feel that a 2-week period of virtual learning would be beneficial to the livelihood and safety of our all Public School Stakeholders. This will ensure that students can safely return to in-person learning for the remainder of the school with minimal cases. 


Understandably, we all want what’s best for all stakeholders involved (mainly our students) however, the reality is we are still in a global pandemic and are now seeing the worst of it with no end in sight.