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Pandemic response reports reveal politics trumped science with pandemic school closures.
Australian and Dutch school closures were political choices.
Throughout the pandemic, the public was constantly told that “following the science” was essential to reduce morbidity and mortality from Covid-19, but as more and more countries publish reports assessing their pandemic responses, it is increasingly looking like one of the most disruptive pandemic measures — extended school closures — were driven more by “the politics” than “the science.”
Yesterday, an independent report — “Fault Lines” — assessing Australia’s pandemic response was released and didn’t mince words. The report said it was “wrong to close entire school systems” and noted that “many pre-pandemic plans recommended that schools remain open.” Why, then, were schools shuttered across Australia? According to the authors: politics.
Politics weakened the National Cabinet’s effectiveness over time. State leaders insisted on going their own way, emboldened by their constitutional prerogatives. Tough action on COVID-19, including the decision to close schools, was judged politically popular by many state leaders. Until that popularity subsided and such policies were relaxed.