Coronavirus Impact On Schools

WAAY 31 is getting doctors thoughts on how in-person learning and sports are going so far after multiple schools have had to revert back to virtual learning due to students and staff being sick or in quarantine.

And on-line.

Tonight- waay 31 wanted to know how local doctors thought in-person learning and sports are going so far - after we started learning some schools have had to revert back to virtual learning- or cancel sporting events - due to students and staff being sick or in quaratnine.

Waay 31's sydney martin joins us live tonight outside huntsville hospital... she spoke to a doctor about how things are going in the community.

Dan, najahe- the infectious disease doctor i talked to today at huntsville hospital told me she worries the country might be reopening to early- and sending kids back to school- could cause another spike in coronavirus cases.

Doctor hafsa siddiqui explained she believes extra measures need to be put in place to get life back to normal... those include social distancing, wearing a mask, and santizing your hands.

School districts across north alabama- are requiring those measures in the classroom, but they're much harder to enforce playing sports..

Siddiqui explained to me - she thinks making sure students, especially the younger ones, follow the guidlines will be difficult.

"when the school opened up and kids start going to school, they have not seen their friends in a long time.

It's very hard to tell a 6-year-old or an 8-year-old to kepp on wearing masks.

They are going to mingle with their friends, and get very close to each other, because that's how they're used to it."

Siddiqui told me we haven't seen an abrupt increase in cases or hospitlizations so far, but she doesnt' think that anyone should let their guard down just yet.

Siddiqui told me her biggest concern- is that students will bring home the virus - and will make their parents or grandparents- very sick- since the older population is more likely to be hospitalized.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31 news.