Presently, Seattle Area is the epicenter of the outbreak of Coronavirus.
As we write this, as many as 50 people in a nursing facility in Kirkland await testing for the Coronavirus. Two people have died from COVID-19. Many of those infected may have been out in the community, spreading this virus without knowing it. Many students might be infected and may bring the virus to school.
The incubation period for this is simply too long to know the extent of the infection at this time.
This virus is new and does not have a cure, the death rate is 2 percent which is 20 more times deadly than influenza. Although it is a low risk to the general American public, it is better to be safe than sorry. Also, not only was the first American case here in Washington but so was the first death, right here, in Great Seattle Area. There is also a possible outbreak in Seattle as well. We need to take action and close schools for the safety of students, even though the risk for younger people is low, there are still students who WILL die from this virus if we do not contain the spread. Please hear me and everyone else out for this quite dangerous virus. Again, it is better to be safe than sorry.
We do not write this petition to get out of our school work. We expect our teachers to provide us with assignments at home, and we resolve to work hard to complete those assignments while school is closed.
We also do not want to put ourselves and our parents in the position of choosing between our education and our health.
We write this petition to urge you to make the responsible decisions to keep the students, and their families safe.