The local newspaper here in Scranton ran an op-ed that was hand-wringing about student “chronic absenteeism” in schools. They mentioned covid twice in the piece, both times to mention that they believe covid is a thing of the past, and to blame the pandemic for “mental health” erosion. No mention of Long Covid, or physical post-covid complications. No acknowledgement that covid is still spreading and that many people aren’t even vaccinating their kids with the latest offering, so they’re suffering full strength covid. In fact, rates of other vaccinations for kids starting school is lower now. This surely isn’t going to promote better attendance. Meanwhile people I know talk about having coworkers who are regularly out sick with respiratory illness, or out on sick leaves. Chronic absenteeism they call it. I call it a failure of public health.
chloe kaczenski humbert