MADISON, Wis. – Nearly five hundred pediatricians, other physicians and providers caring for Wisconsin’s children signed an open letter to parents and schools urging masking and other mitigation measures as part of a safe return to school amidst this latest surge of COVID-19.
“Children are our most precious resource, and we must do everything we can to keep them safe as they return to the classroom,” said Dr. Ellen Wald, chair of the department of pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and infectious disease physician at UW Health. “In-person learning is important for our children. This letter is all about how we can work together – parents, teachers, schools and healthcare providers – to have a safe and positive return to school this year.”
Below is the open letter and list of current signatures. A recorded interview with Dr. Wald is available as well as interviews with Wald and other pediatricians.
An open letter to Wisconsin schools and parents
As healthcare providers and physicians, we have dedicated our lives to protecting and improving the health of children throughout Wisconsin and our many communities.
As this latest surge of COVID-19 converges with the start of school, we are presented with a new and critical challenge. Our children reap great benefits from a return to in-person schooling. But we must ensure that those schools are safe.
The good news is we can do this. We’ve learned so much over the last year about this virus — prevention, treatment and how we can manage our facilities and our interactions to avoid rapid spread. That knowledge presents us with a clear path forward.
The challenge is, we can only do it by working together.
Our children don’t have a say over what school district policies will be. And most of our children don’t yet have access to the added protection of a vaccine. That’s why it is so important that school boards, school administrators, teachers and parents come together behind a few simple, science-based and tested methods to bring our kids safely back into the classroom.
- We need to mask up. Studies show that universal masking prevents the spread of COVID-19, and masks are safe for children as young as 2 years old. Universal masking allows for modified quarantining in certain cases, which should increase in-person attendance. It is simply the most important thing we can do right now to ensure that our schools are safe.
- Maintain 3 feet of distance between people whenever possible. Whether it’s in classrooms, hallways or buses, a small amount of physical distancing goes a long way in preventing spread of the virus. Where distancing is not possible, mask wearing is increasingly important.
- Those who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated. That includes parents, teachers, staff and all those children age 12 and up. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, they are effective and they are the most powerful tool we have in our efforts to end this long pandemic.
- Follow simple public health recommendations. Wash your hands, cover your coughs and keep your kids home if they’re sick.
Our children need to be in school. And our schools need to be safe for our children. We know it can be done with great effect and without great disruption.
It may seem like these pandemic restrictions will be around forever, but they won’t. We will get past this. But until we do, our hopes lie with all of you and with our ability to work together on a safe, happy and effective return to school.
Signed,
Ellen Wald, Madison
Michael Gutzeit, Milwaukee
Aaron Wieland, Madison
Abby Neisius, Madison
Adam Bauer, Madison
Adam Brinkman, Madison
Adam Kney, Madison
Adam Wallace, Madison
Agnes Kanikula, Prairie du Sac
Ahmed Afifi, Madison
Aimee Becker, Madison
Alanna Kessler-Jones, Madison
Alexander Lepak, Madison
Alexander Raskin, Milwaukee
Alexandra Schultz, Madison
Alfredo Mendoza, Janesville
Alicia Plummer, Madison
Alina Burek, Milwaukee
Alison Brooks, Madison
Alison Craig-Shashko, Madison
Allison Lindell, Madison
Allison Remiker, Milwaukee
Amanda Eells, Madison
Ambar Haleem, Madison
Amber Shada, Madison
Amy Basarich, Madison
Amy Dresen, Madison
Amy Falk, Wisconsin Rapids
Amy Fogarty, Sturgeon Bay
Amy Johnson, Monroe
Amy Kaleka, Madison
Amy Koepke, Woodruff
Amy Peterson, Middleton
Amy Plumb, Madison
Amye Tevaarwerk, Madison
Andrea Carberry, Neenah
Andrea Chao, Lodi
Andrew Lewandowski, Madison
Andrew Waclawik, Madison
Angela Gatzke-Plamann, Necedah
Angela Gibson, Madison
Anika Nelson, Whitefish Bay
Ankush Bhatia, Madison
Ann Allen, Madison
Ann Behrmann, Madison
Ann Evensen, Verona
Anne Jordan, Sturgeon Bay
Anne Marsh, Madison
Anne Singh, Madison
Anthony Garcia-Prats, Madison
Arjang Djamali, Cross Plains
Arnold Wald, Madison
Ashley Flannery, Green Bay
Barb Johnson-Giese, Sturgeon Bay
Barbara Coulter-Smith, Minocqua
Barbara Fischer, Madison
Ben Zarzaur, Madison
Beth Drolet, Whitefish Bay
Beth Smith, Madison
Beth Van Den Langenberg, Madison
Betsy Peterson, Beaver Dam
Bikash Pattnaik, Madison
Brad Beinlich, Madison
Brad Gietman, Madison
Brenna Redemann, Madison
Brett J Bordini, Wauwatosa
Brian Stamm, Madison
Brian Williams, Madison
Brianna Schumacher, Madison
Bridget Johnson, Deforest
Brittany Allen, Madison
Brittany Player, Wauwatosa
Brooks Rademacher, Madison
Cami Matthews, Madison
Camila Khan, Madison
Carol Diamond, Madison
Carolyn Rank, Madison
Carolyn Sleeth, Madison
Carrie Cichy-Krantz, Belleville
Cassie Meffert, Waunakee
Catharine Garland, Madison
Catherine Ferguson, Milwaukee
Catherine Reiser, Madison
Catherine Stevens, Madison
Cathy Beckman, cross plains
Cathy Lee-Miller, Madison
Chad Ennis, Middleton
Charles Acher, Madison
Charles Bergstrom, Madison
Charles Leys, Madison
Charles Shutt, Sturgeon Bay
Chet Price, Wisconsin Rapids
Christie Bartels, Madison
Christine Pagel, Madison
Christine Seroogy, Madison
Christine Zimmerman, Madison
Christopher Crnich, Madison
Cindy Henry, Minocqua
Claudia Vicetti, Milwaukee
Corrine Voils, Madison
Craig Flinders, Nekoosa
D. Philip Cheng, Mequon
Dan Beardmore, Janesville
Dan Zepplin, Madison
Dana Johnson, Madison
Daniel Abbott, Verona
Daniel Bennett, Madison
Daniel Crocetti, Madison
Daniel O’Connell, Madison
David Allen, Madison
David Andes, Madison
David Francis, Madison
David Hsu, Madison
David Rakel, Madison
David Ringdahl, Madison
David Sonetti, Madison
David Upton, Madison
David Wargowski, Madison
Dawd Siraj, Madison
Dawn Elfenbein, Madison
Deborah Marble, Madison
Deborah Thums, Madison
Deepak Gopal, Madison
Delora Mount, Madison
Dennis Maki, Madison
Devashish Joshi, Madison
Dipesh Navsaria, Madison
Dixon Kaufman, Madison
Dominic Co, Middleton
Dorene Dempster, Sturgeon Bay
Eileen Jekot, Appleton
Elaine Rosenblatt, Madison
Elena Alfaro, Madison
Elizabeth Cox, Fitchburg
Elizabeth Gaida, Sturgeon Bay
Elizabeth Lucht, Madison
Elizabeth Mellott, Wisconsin Rapids
Elizabeth Petty, Madison
Elizabeth Roe, Madison
Elizabeth Trowbridge, Madison
Ellen Connor, Madison
Ellen Knipfer, Sturgeon Bay
Emily Ruedinger, Madison
Emma Mohr, Madison
Eric Warbasse, Prairie du Sac
Erick Tarula, Madison
Eugene Foley, Madison
Eva Allen, Cross Plains
Evelyn Tunnell, Madison
Francis Claire Natividad, Wisconsin Rapids
Gail Allen, Madison
Gemma Warner, Madison
Gloria Morel, Madison
Gregory DeMuri, Madison
Gretchen Winandy, Black Earth
H. Clay Dean, Prairie du Sac
Hamid Emamekhoo, Madison
Hara Levy, Denver
Hayley Mann, Madison
Heather Neuman, Madison
Heather Paradis, Milwaukee
Heather Peto, Madison
Heidi Derbick, Sturgeon Bay
Hrissanthi Ikonomidou, Madison
Ian Koszewski, Madison
Ian Robins, Madison
Jacqueline Murtha, Madison
James Cole, Madison
James Conway, Madison
James Gern, Madison
James Heise, Sturgeon Bay
James Stadler, Madison
James Stein, Madison
Jane Churpek, Madison
Janelle Hupp, Prairie du Sac
Janna Klein, Madison
Jeffrey Pothof, Madison
Jenna Kolodziej, Stevens Point
Jennifer Burns, Green Bay
Jennifer Hadjiev, Wauwatosa
Jennifer Kwon, Madison
Jennifer Liter, Madison
Jennifer Lochner, Belleville
Jennifer Reckner, Madison
Jennifer Rehm, Madison
Jennifer Szmanda, Appleton
Jennifer Trott, Madison
Jenny Pleva, Verona
Jeremy Kratz, Madison
Jess Babal, Madison
Jessica Baker, Madison
Jessica Bekker, Prairie du Sac
Jessica Scott Schwoerer, Madison
Jessica Tischendorf, Madison
Jessica Wallis-Bhyravabotla, Madison
Jillian Landeck, Madison
Jocelyn Wilke, Madison
John Ackah, Sun Prairie
John Frohna, Waunakee
John Hokanson, Madison
John McAuliffe, Prairie Du Sac
John Stratton, Madison
Jonathan Roe, Janesville
Joseph McBride, Madison
Joseph Rebhan, Baileys Harbor
Joshua Lang, Madison
Joshua Ross, Madison
Julie Gocey, Verona
Justin Endo, Madison
Kaitlin Kamer, Madison
Kane Laks, Madison
Karen Pletta, Stoughton
Karen Reed, Madison
Kari Hegeman, Madison
Kari Weier, Madison
Kari Wisinski, Madison
Karoline Canada, Madison
Kate Amond, Madison
Kate Swenson, Madison
Katherine Gast, Madison
Katherine Lemon, Madison
Katherine Mijal, Madison
Katherine Moriarty, Madison
Katherine O’Rourke, Elroy
Kathleen Antony, Madison
Kathleen Maginot, Madison
Kathleen Shannon, Madison
Kathryn Less, Madison
Kathryn Schmit, Madison
Katie Bleier, Madison
Katie Peterman, Madison
Katie Rebedew, Monroe
Katie Stadler, Madison
Katy Guralski, Wausau
Kelly Hodgson Kline, Tomah
Kelly McGregory, Madison
Kelly Mommaerts, Madison
Kelsy Kellermann, Green Bay
Kent MacLaughlin, Madison
Kevin Dahlman, Milwaukee
Kia Mills, Madison
Kim Kantor, Madison
Kim Squires, Madison
Kirstin Nackers, Madison
Kokpeng Yu, Madison
Krisjon Olson, Madison
Krista Grinde, Madison
Kristan Sodergren, Madison
Kristen Holland, Milwaukee
Kristen Marten, Madison
Kristin Friedl, Madison
Kristin Long, Madison
Kristin Seaborg, Madison
Kristin Shadman, Madison
Kristine Matson, Madison
Kristine Matysiak, Sturgeon Bay
Larry Elfman, Madison
Laura Birkeland, Madison
Laura Hancock, Madison
Laura Houser, Madison
Laura Zakowski, Madison
Laurel Rice, Madison
Lauren Dallman, Madison
Lauren Kacvinsky, Madison
Lauren Watson, Madison
Lawrence Leibert, Wisconsin Rapids
Lee Wilke, Madison
Leon Radant, Mauston
Leslie Strand, Verona
Liana Eskola, Madison
Lindsay Geier, Monroe
Lisa Arkin, Madison
Lisa Barry, Plover
Lisa Olson, Wisconsin Rapids
Louella Amos, Milwaukee
Luke Bradbury, Madison
Luke Fortney, Spring Green
Luke Funk, Waunakee
Luke Zurbriggen, Madison
Lynn Kohlmeier, Menasha
Lynn Schnapp, Madison
M. Chona Antonio, Sturgeon Bay
M. Tracy Bekx, Verona
Mahgen Kruse, Madison
Mala Mathur, Madison
Malcolm DeCamp, Monona
Marc Grodsky, De Pere
Marcus Chacon, Madison
Margaret Alvarez, Woodruff
Margaret Greco, Madison
Margaret Nolan, Madison
Margo Hoover-Regan, Madison
Margo Reeder, Madison
Maria Rosa, Madison
Maria Stanley, Madison
Mark Burkard, Madison
Mark Moss, Madison
Mark Wirtz, Verona
Mary Bartel, Neenah
Mary Beth Henry, Madison
Mary Ehlenbach, Madison
Masaru Furukawa, Spring Green
Matt Theado, DePere
Matthew Harer, Madison
Matthew Lambert, Madison
Matthew Lister, Middleton
Meaghan Trainor, Madison
Megan Berube, Madison
Megan Buechter, Madison
Megan Derrer, Deerfield
Megan Gendel, Madison
Megan Mahaffey, Madison
Megan Neuman, Madison
Megan Peters, Madison
Megan Yanny, Verona
Meghan Lubner, Madison
Meiying Liang, Mequon
Melanie Nelson, Madison
Melinda Chen, Madison
Melissa Novotny, Madison
Meriel Rongstad, Madison
Michael Hansen, Madison
Michael Kim, Madison
Michael Lucey, Madison
Michael Pomroy, Madison
Michael Puricelli, Madison
Michael Ritter, Madison
Michael Rock, Madison
Michael Sloan, Madison
Michael Stephen Meyn, Madison
Michelle Brenner, Madison
Michelle Ciucci, Madison
Michelle Hill, De Pere
Michelle Kelly, Madison
Mihaela Bazalakova, Madison
Misti Lavin, Minocqua
Mohamed Hamdan, Madison
Molly Russell, Sun prairie
Moniba Nazeef, Madison
Murielle Hsu, Madison
Nan Sethakorn, Madison
Nasia Safdar, Madison
Nassima Baba-ahmed Fertikh, Madison
Natalie Callander, Madison
Natalie Wheeler, Madison
Natasha Frost, Madison
Nathan Grunewald, Prairie du Sac
Neil Paloian, Madison
Nicholas Kuehnel, Madison
Nick Von Bergen, Madison
Nicole Baumann-Blackmore, Madison
Nicole Christian, Madison
Nicole St Clair, Madison
Nina Menda, Madison
Nizar Jarjour, Madison
Patricia Deffner-Valley, Madison
Patricia Kasper, Appleton
Paul Board, Sturgeon Bay
Paul Horvath, Menomonie
Paul Hunter, Madison
Paul Neary, Fort Atkinson
Paul Sondel, Madison
Pelin Cengiz, Madison
Perry Krumenacher, Wauwatosa
Peter Havens, Wauwatosa
Peter Newcomer, Madison
Peter Nichol, Madison
Petros Anagnostopoulos, Madison
Qiang Chang, Madison
Rachael Ellis, DePere
Rachel Petro, McFarland
Rebecca Minter, Madison
Reem Almomani, Madison
Regis Chamberlin, Wisconsin Rapids
Rhiannon Talbot, Madison
Richard A. Hogan, Sturgeon Bay
Richard Pauli, Madison
Richard Reich, Madison
Richard Reich, Madison
Richard Shoskey, Wonewoc
Robert Golden, Madison
Robert Steiner, Marshfield
Robyn LaBarge, Menomonee Falls
Robyn Paloian, Middleton
Robyn Weilbaker, Washington Island
Rodney Erickson, Tomah
Rosanna Fiallo-Scharer, Milwaukee
Rose Staden, Madison
Russell Lemmon, Madison
Ryan Bender, Columbus
Ryan Coller, Madison
Ryan Mattison, Madison
Ryan Plamann, Mauston
Sabrina Butteris, Madison
Sally Johannsen, Madison
Sam Lubner, Madison
Samantha Erie, Wonewoc
Sanjay Asthana, Madison
Santhi Logel, Madison
Sara Burghaus, Woodruff
Sara Kreckman, Madison
Sara Lauck, Wauwatosa
Sarah Bauer, Milwaukee
Sarah Campbell, Appleton
Sarah Schlueter, Madison
Sarah Vepraskas, Milwaukee
Sarah Yale, Wauwatosa
Saurabh Rajguru, Madison
Schuyler Barraclough, Madison
Scott Chaiet, Madison
Shane Allen, Madison
Shane Colvin, Sturgeon Bay
Shardha Srinivasan, Madison
Sharon Weber, Madison
Shawn Koval, Madison
Shawn Lerch, Sauk City
Shawyon Shadman, Madison
Shea Lues, Madison
Sheryl Henderson, Madison
Shilpa Ullikashi, De Pere
Siobhan Byrne, Madison
Stefanie Sippl, Fitchburg
Stephanie Betts, Belleville
Stephanie Handler, Milwaukee
Stephen Lo, Fitchburg
Stephen Nakada, Madison
Steve Marshall, Madison
Sumer Wallace, Madison
Sushant Srinivasan, Madison
Suzanne Wright, Marshfield
Syed Masood, Madison
Taylor Boland, Madison
Teresa Mangin, Madison
Teresa W, Madison
Thomas Murwin, Stoughton
Thomas Pasic, Madison
Thomas Zdeblivk, Madison
Tiffany Glazer, Madison
Timothy Livett, Madison
TingChang Hsieh, Madison
Toby Campbell, Madison
Todd McKenzie, Appleton
Tom Brazelton, Madison
Tony Kille, Madison
Tony Peterangelo, Madison
Trish Paris, Belleville
Tyler Light, Madison
Tyler Sternhagen, Madison
Vaishalee Kenkre, Madison
Valerie Gilchrist, Madison
Valerie Hay, Stevens Point
Vic Weiss, Madison
Vinay Goswamy, Madison
Vivek Balasubramaniam, Middleton
Wendy Coleman, Madison
Wendy Sue Swanson, Madison
William Kasper, Appleton
Yvonne Chiu, Milwaukee
Zachary Meyer, Hillsboro
Zachary Smith, Madison