CDC: 260 Kids and Staff Infected at Georgia Camp
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And while the camp did adapt some of the CDC's guidelines for camps, some key guidelines such as campers wearing masks were never implemented. The data is chilling and it suggests that children can indeed get infected and very quickly. Joining me now to discuss is a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Michael Saag. Dr. Saag, thanks so much. I -- as a parent I have to say I found this terrifying. Staffers wore masks but there was very quick widespread infection, including among young kids under 6. Of the campers and staff who they got test results for who tested positive, 51 percent were between 6 and 10 years old, 44 percent were between 11 and 17. And 33 percent, this is of staffers and aides, they were between 18 and 21 years old. How serious of a threat is it of kids getting this virus and infecting their parents and families?</s>DR. MICHAEL SAAG, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE & INFECTIOUS DISEASES, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM: Well, Jake, I think it proves exactly what we've been thinking about and leaning towards for a while now. And that is I don't think the virus cares who you are or even necessarily how old you are. If you give it a chance to infect, it's going to do just that. And when you put people together, especially in closed spaces like in the case of a camp a cabin or in the case of a classroom in a school we're going to see transmission. Another way to think about it, there are some data that show that if you're in one of the hot zones, the red zone states like Arizona, Georgia, Florida, et cetera, that if you have ten people in a room, there's a 40 percent chance that one of those ten will be infected. And if you have 25, it's a 72 percent chance that one of the 25 will be infected. So as we start thinking about going back to school, we might be surprised about the story with the campers. But we're going to see this happening over and over again as we re-enter into schools. It's just going to be something we should expect.</s>TAPPER: Let's take a look at the CDC guidelines for summer camp so as to take some instruction about what schools could or should look like. It says stay at home when appropriate, use proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, face masks, ensure ventilation systems operate properly. Now, we should point out at these Georgia camp, campers did not wear masks. Staffers did but campers did not. Windows and doors were not left open for additional ventilation, and, of course, campers were group by cabins, and slept in the cabins, and they also participated in activities such as cheering and singing that may have helped the virus spread. Are -- is there something for us to learn in this that maybe suggests that schools could be reopened more safely than this camp was?</s>SAAG: Yeah. I think the one thing it tells us is that business as usual isn't going to work. But like you're implying, if the students are wearing masks 24/7 while they're in school at least and the parents and teachers when they're at school are wearing masks, that'll help. The ventilation will help, and then, of course, the physical distancing which we know. So we're going to have to have mitigation strategies as each school opens, especially in what we would call the red zone states, those that have high rates of infection right now.</s>TAPPER: In addition to opening windows and doors, are there air purifiers that can be used? Is there technology along those lines that schools should be considering if they can afford it?</s>SAAG: Yeah. That may help. But I think what's more important is the immediate environment around each student. Because if like I was saying earlier, one in 25 is infected, the air purification is almost too far away. So students who are in their immediate vicinity to the right, left, front or in back who are the vulnerable ones. So if we keep distance between them and everyone's wearing a mask, that's our best chance to mitigate. Filters in the air might help a little bit but I don't know if it's really worth the expense to go to that. I think it's more important to focus on these other aspects.</s>TAPPER: And, of course, if testing were up to speed and we could test students and teachers and parents, that would really help. But our testing is not up to speed. Of the 101 largest school districts in the U.S., 60 are starting their school year with all online classes. Do you think that's the right move?</s>SAAG: It depends on where they are. But in some ways that might be the best way forward to start. There's going to be, whatever, 40 percent of the schools are going to be re-opening and they can watch and learn. But I think the key thing is if a school decides to reopen, the mitigation strategies that we just talked about, mask wearing, distance, ensuring ventilation, and making sure that everyone is not clumped together indoors in a crowded space is the best we can do. But to be honest, this is a giant experiment. We don't know exactly what to expect and I think that's what's unnerving about it for a lot of people.</s>TAPPER: The nation's largest school district will be re-opening if the infection rate stays below 3 percent. That's according to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. And once those schools reopen, masks and social distancing will be required of course. Students and teachers will have access to free testing, and all classrooms must have the necessary protective gear. What do you think of that approach, and is that the one you think schools across the country should take if the infection rate goes down to where hopefully it will be in New York City?</s>SAAG: Yeah. The New York story is a success story in the United States. And a 3 percent positive rate is remarkable compared to, for example, Alabama right now that's about 18 percent. So I think for a non-red zone state like New York, that seems like a reasonable way to start.</s>TAPPER: All right, Dr. Michael Saag, thank you so much for your expertise. Hope to have you back again soon. New concerns after the mail after a Trump fundraiser takes over the United States Postal Service and the president starts griping about mail-in voting. Stay with us.