Teachers in US protest over reopening of schools

NIRMAL YESODA

As coronavirus positive cases are surging in various parts of the United States, teachers in the country have started protests, as governments are planning to reopen schools. According to these protestors, in-person classes should not be held until scientific data supports the move.

These teachers and school staffs are urging authorities to follow safety protocols like lower class sizes, and virus testing centers in each educational institution. Protestors also demand deployment of nurses in schools, and they also requested the government to provide financial assistance for parents in need, which includes mortgage and cash assistance.

All these protests come at a time when Trump administration is planning to introduce a coronavirus economic relief bill.

The coronavirus that originated from Wuhan, China, has already claimed the lives of more than 1,58,000 people in the United States alone. According to the latest statistics, the pandemic has infected more than 4.7 million Americans. In July alone, the country recorded more than 25,000 tests, and medical experts believe that this surge is mainly due to the lifting of lockdown measures in many states.

However, President Donald Trump claimed that the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country is mainly due to the increase in testings carried out.

A few days back, Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator had claimed that the United States is now facing a new phase of coronavirus pandemic. Birx also shockingly revealed that the pandemic that is currently creating chaos is more widespread than when it first hit the country earlier next year.