Brian Campbell Interviews Dr. Robert Hamilton On Covid & School Reopenings:
Our own Brian Campbell has just released an informative video interview with nationally-known Santa Monica pediatrician Dr. Robert Hamilton. The interview uploaded on video platforms and on my own public service blog goes in-depth on the issues surrounding reopening in-person schooling for underaged children.
Among several questions Dr. Hamilton addressed in this interview was a query regarding what medical experts and epidemiolgoist have learned in the past year regarding Covid’s effects on grade school age children. Hamilton echoed the scientific consensus that underaged children were the age group least affected by the extreme effects of Covid infections.
“There’s a push across the country to fully reopen schools and this has the backing of many pediatricians who say kids need to be back in school and by now the data shows children are not major spreaders of the coronavirus.” Hamilton stated during the interview.
Hamilton also responded to Brian’s questions about children being allowed back into public spaces by stating the importance of mental and physical health benefits of allowing children to socialize more normally and the desirability of allowing kids to play organized sports.
Hamilton’s assertion is in line with similar calls from other medical experts such as Pediatricians like Dr. Warren Seigel, chairman of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics who agrees that scientific evidence shows that children in school are at no higher risk of being fatally affected by COVID.
The shelter-in-place restrictions from the Covid pandemic and the resulting isolation for students is regarded as a public health threat which in some cases can lead to mental health problems including a rise in childhood depression and suicide attempts.
Hamilton was one of several speakers at a taped press conference held by America’s Frontline Doctors in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in the summer of 2020.
As a current elected trustee of PVLD, Bruab said he will advocate that the board find ways to provide innovative opportunities for social connection during the current pandemic.
The PVLD offers a variety of community programs such as the PVLD Adult Services department which helps the public and library community by providing welcoming, responsive, professional customer service throughout the district.
