 
>>> I MISS 
SCHOOL AND MY 
FRIENDS. 
>> IT COULD BE 
THE BIGGEST 
CHALLENGE IN 
THIS DEADLY 
PANDEMIC. 
GOING BACK TO 
SCHOOL. 
>> THERE'S A LOT 
AT STAKE. 
>> IT SOMETHING 
WE ALL WANT. 
BUT CAN IT BE 
DONE SAFELY? 
>> HOW IN THE 
WORLD ARE YOU 
GOING TO CONTROL 
THIS BEHAVIOR? 
>> TONIGHT, 
FEARS, FACTS, 
AND ANSWERS. 
>> YOU ARE 
PACKING 300 KIDS 
INTO A SCHOOL. 
HOW IS THAT 
FOLLOWING THE 
GUIDELINES? 
>> WE WILL HEAR 
FROM TEACHERS. 
>> WE FEEL 
DISCONNECTED. 
>> BALANCING 
RISK AND 
RESPONSIBILITY. 
>> IT IS IN THE 
SELF-INTEREST 
FOR KIDS TO GO 
BACK TO SCHOOL. 
>> PARENTS NEED 
TO GET BACK TO 
WORK. 
>> NOT HAVING 
ACCESS TO 
EDUCATION 
OUTWEIGHS THE 
OTHER. 
STUDENTS WHO'VE 
EDUCATION IS 
ABOUT TO INCLUDE 
ONE OF THE 
BIGGEST LESSONS 
OF THEIR LIVES. 
>> IT GOES TO 
SHOW THAT 
ANYTHING COULD 
CHANGE OUR 
LIVES. 
>> THIS IS AN 
NBC NEWS SPECIAL 
REPORT. 
CORONAVIRUS AND 
THE CLASSROOM. 
>>> HELLO, I AM 
LESTER HOLT. 
THANK YOU FOR 
JOINING US. 
THERE MAY BE NO 
GREATER EXAMPLE 
OF HOW THE 
CORONAVIRUS 
PANDEMIC HAS 
DISRUPTED 
AMERICAN LIFE, 
HOW IT HAS SOWN 
CHAOS AND 
EXCITING ALONG 
WITH ILLNESS AND 
DEATH, AND THE 
CHALLENGE OF 
GOING BACK TO 
SCHOOL. 
TONIGHT, WITH 
THE NEW SCHOOL 
YEAR UPON US, 
FAMILIES, 
COMMUNITIES, AND 
EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY ARE 
FACING A 
BEWILDERING 
ARRAY OF TOUGH 
CHOICES, AND IT 
SEEMS NONE OF 
THOSE CHOICES 
ARE WITHOUT 
RISK. 
TEACHERS WANT TO 
TEACH. 
BUT CAN THEY DO 
SO SAFELY IN 
PERSON IN A 
CLASSROOM FULL 
OF STUDENTS? 
PARENTS WANT 
THEIR KIDS IN 
SCHOOL. 
BUT WILL THAT 
PUT THOSE KIDS 
IN HARMS WAY? 
AND HOW CAN 
PARENTS GO BACK 
TO WORK IF THEIR 
KIDS HAVE TO 
STAY AT HOME? 
AND WHAT ABOUT 
THE KIDS 
THEMSELVES? 
MILLIONS OF 
STUDENTS FROM 
KINDERGARTEN 
THROUGH COLLEGE 
EAGER TO LEARN, 
TO GET OUT OF 
THE HOUSE, TO BE 
WITH THEIR 
FRIENDS. 
IS AT AN 
ACCEPTABLE RISK 
OR A DISASTER 
WAITING TO 
HAPPEN? 
OVER THE NEXT 
HOUR, WE HOPE TO 
BRING SOME 
CLARITY TO THOSE 
QUESTIONS, TO 
BRING YOU THE 
VERY LATEST 
INFORMATION TO 
HELP YOU 
UNDERSTAND THE 
STAKES AND 
NAVIGATE THE 
CHOICES YOUR 
FAMILY WILL HAVE 
TO MAKE. 
WE HAVE OUR TEAM 
ASSEMBLED TO 
TAKE US THROUGH 
IT ALL. 
WE WILL HEAR 
FROM THE 
DIRECTOR OF THE 
CENTERS FOR 
DISEASE CONTROL 
AND PREVENTION, 
DR. ROBERT 
BRADFIELD, ON 
CORONAVIRUS IN 
THE CLASSROOM. 
LET ME GET THIS 
QUICKLY OUT-OF-
THE-WAY. 
I AM SEPARATED 
BY MORE THAN 
EIGHT FEET FROM 
THE NEAREST 
PERSON BEHIND A 
TV CAMERA. 
BEST, I AM NOT 
WEARING MY MASK. 
LET'S GET 
STARTED. 
NBC'S JOHN 
COSTELLO. 
>> Reporter: 
SAME STORY WITH 
ME. 
NATIONWIDE, 90 
KIDS AND TEENS 
HAVE NOW DIED 
FROM COVID-19. 
PUBLIC HEALTH 
EXPERTS 
GENERALLY AGREE, 
THEY NEED TO 
GET, WE NEED TO 
GET KIDS BACK TO 
SCHOOL. 
IT'S BETTER FOR 
THE EDUCATION. 
IT'S BETTER FOR 
THEIR PHYSICAL 
AND EMOTIONAL 
WELL-BEING. 
BUT IF KIDS 
RETURN TO SCHOOL 
IN A COVID HOT 
ZONE, THE FEAR 
IS THAT THE 
VIRUS WILL 
SPREAD LIKE 
WILDFIRE, 
ENDANGERING 
ENTIRE 
COMMUNITIES. 
ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, THE 
MORNING RITUAL 
IS CHANGING 
PROFOUNDLY. 
FOR 56 MILLION K-
12 STUDENTS, THE 
SCHOOL YEAR. FOR 
THOSE WHO RETURN 
TO SCHOOL IN THE 
FALL, FEWER KIDS 
ON THE SCHOOL 
BUS, FACE MASKS, 
TEMPERATURE 
CHECKS AT THE 
FRONT DOOR, 
FEWER KIDS PER 
CLASSROOM, 
ALTERNATING IN-
CLASS DAYS AND 
SPACED OUT 
CAFETERIA 
SEATING. 
>> TO BE ABLE TO 
INTERACT, HAVE 
THE TEACHER BE 
HIS TEACHER AND 
NOT HIS MOM BE 
HIS TEACHER. 
>> Reporter: FOR 
MILLIONS OF KIDS 
IN TEEN, THE 
RETURN TO SCHOOL 
WILL BE VIRTUAL. 
SEVERAL ARE 
RETURNING 
VIRTUALLY ONLY. 
OTHER SCHOOL 
SYSTEMS, 
INCLUDING NEW 
YORK CITY, THE 
COUNTRY IS THE 
LARGEST, PLAN TO 
USE IN-PERSON 
LEARNING OR A 
HYBRID MODEL. 
STILL, A QUARTER 
OF NEW YORK CITY 
KIDS ARE OPTING 
FOR ALL REMOTE 
LEARNING. 
NO ONE WANTS IT 
TO BE THIS WAY. 
PARENTS, 
EDUCATORS, AND 
STUDENTS WOULD 
ALL LOVE TO BE 
BACK IN THE 
CLASSROOM. 
>> I MISS SCHOOL.
I MISS MY 
FRIENDS. 
>> Reporter: 
THESE ARE NOT 
NORMAL TIMES. 
>> THERE'S A LOT 
AT STAKE HERE. 
THERE'S A LOT OF 
STEAK FOR KIDS 
EDUCATION CENTER 
SOCIAL WELL-
BEING, AND A LOT 
OF STAKES FOR 
HEALTH. 
FINDING THAT 
PLACE IN THE 
MIDDLE IS WHERE 
COMMUNITIES ARE 
STRUGGLING. 
>> Reporter: 
FIRST, A FACT 
CHECK. 
AND KIDS 
CONTRACT COVID-
19. 
THE CDC SAYS 
ABSOLUTELY. 
MORE THAN 
380,000 TEEN'S 
AND KIDS HAVE 
ALREADY 
CONTRACTED THE 
VIRUS. 
ROUGHLY 9% OF 
ALL CORONAVIRUS 
CASES. 
WHILE MOST WON'T 
BECOME SERIOUSLY 
ILL, RESEARCHERS 
BELIEVE EVEN 
ASYMPTOMATIC 
YOUNG PEOPLE CAN 
ACTIVELY SPREAD 
THE VIRUS TO 
OTHERS, 
INCLUDING 
TEACHERS, 
PARENTS, AND THE 
ELDERLY. 
IN CHEROKEE 
COUNTY, GEORGIA, 
TWO HIGH SCHOOLS 
ARE CLOSED AFTER 
DOZENS OF 
CONFIRMED CASES. 
MORE THAN 1200 
STUDENTS AND 
STAFF ARE 
QUARANTINED 
DISTRICTWIDE. 
45 MINUTES AWAY, 
NORTH PAULDING 
HIGH SCHOOL 
REMAINS CLOSED 
WITH 35 POSITIVE 
CASES AFTER 
STUDENTS PACKED 
THE HALLWAYS, 
OFTEN WITHOUT 
MASKS. 
>> I JUST FEEL 
LIKE THAT'S A 
RISK SOME OF THE 
SENIORS ARE 
WILLING TO TAKE 
TO HAVE OUR 
SENIOR YEAR. 
>> Reporter: 
ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, 
TEACHERS ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT 
THEIR OWN 
HEALTH. 
>> YOU ARE 
PACKING 300 
KIDS, ALMOST 300 
KIDS INTO A 
SCHOOL. 
HOW IS THAT 
FOLLOWING THE 
GUIDELINES THAT 
EVERYONE HAS PUT 
OUT? 
>> Reporter: 
MARCY WARNER IS 
RETIRING AFTER 
40 YEARS 
TEACHING IN 
SCOTTSDALE, 
ARIZONA. 
>> I LOVE THOSE 
KIDS AND WHERE I 
TAUGHT AND WHAT 
I DID. 
BUT I'M NOT 
QUITE WILLING TO 
DIE FOR THEM. 
>> Reporter: THE 
PRESIDENT IS 
STILL PUSHING TO 
GET STUDENTS 
BACK. 
>> ALL SCHOOLS 
SHOULD BE MAKING 
PLANS TO RESUME 
IN-PERSON 
CLASSES AS SOON 
AS POSSIBLE. 
>> Reporter: 
PROVIDING 
GUIDELINES 
SIMILAR TO THE 
ADVICE OFFERED BY
HEALTH EXPERTS. 
THE CDC IS 
PUSHING IN-
PERSON LEARNING 
WHEN POSSIBLE. 
AMONG ITS MANY 
RECOMMENDATIONS, 
NO ENTRY INTO A 
SCHOOL FOR 
ANYONE WITH A 
TEMPERATURE OVER 
100.4. 
KEEP SMALL PODS 
OF TEACHERS AND 
STUDENTS 
TOGETHER ALL 
DAY. 
PHYSICAL 
BARRIERS TO 
MINIMIZE THE 
TRANSMISSION OF 
COST, SEIZES, OR 
TALKS. 
IN ADDITION, 
CONTINUOUSLY 
DISINFECT HIGH-
TOUCH SURFACES 
LIKE 
PLAYGROUNDS, 
DOORKNOBS, LIGHT 
SWITCHES ON THE 
DESKTOP, 
COUNTERTOPS, AND 
RESTROOMS. 
ONE DOCTOR SAYS 
SCHOOLS WILL 
NEED TO 
PRIORITIZE WHICH 
SKIDS RETURN TO 
SCHOOL FIRST. 
>> THE BEST 
EVIDENCE IS THAT 
YOUNGER KIDS 
TRANSMIT LESS. 
ALSO YOUNGER 
KIDS REALLY NEED 
THAT FACE TO 
FACE IN A WAY 
THAT THE OLDER 
KIDS MAYBE WE IT 
A LITTLE LESS. 
IF I WERE 
PRIORITIZING, I 
WAS OKAY 35. 
>> Reporter: IN 
GEORGIA, SCHOOL 
RESUMES LAST 
WEEK. 
MANY KIDS KEPT 
THEIR MASKS ON, 
STOOD SEPARATED 
IN THE HALL, AND 
SET DIVIDED BY 
PLEXIGLAS AT 
THEIR DESK. 
NOW IT IS ALSO 
REPORTING 
POSITIVE CASES. 
>> I WAS LOOKING 
FORWARD TO 
SEEING MY 
FRIENDS AND GET 
IT BACK IN 
SCHOOL. 
>> Reporter: 
THAT WILL HAVE 
TO WAIT FOR THIS 
10-YEAR-OLD IN 
MARYLAND, WHO 
WILL START HIS 
GRADE ONLINE. 
>> CORONA KID 
GRADUATE. 
OUR FIRST 
GRADUATE OF THE 
YEAR. 
>> Reporter: SHE 
COMPLETED FOURTH 
GRADE AT HOME. 
HER DAD DOES 
CORONA CARE 
ACADEMY. 
>> YOU SURVIVED 
DISTANCE 
LEARNING AT HOME 
WITH MOM AND DAD.
YOU MUST BE AT 
THE TOP OF YOUR 
CLASS. YOU ARE 
SUPERSMART. 
>> I AM. 
>> Reporter: HER 
DAD WAS ALSO AT 
HOME, SERVING AS 
A COOK, READING, 
WRITING, 
ARITHMETIC, GYM 
AND MUSIC 
TEACHER. 
IT WAS ONLY HOME 
BECAUSE IN HIS 
REAL JOB, HE IS 
A TEACHER AT 
ANOTHER SCHOOL. 
NOW TEACHING 
MUSIC ONLINE, 
WHICH REQUIRES A 
LOT OF PATIENCE 
AND FLEXIBILITY. 
>> I TELL MY 
STUDENTS, I'M 
OKAY WITH 
EXTENDING 
TRADITIONAL 
TIMES OF MONDAY 
THROUGH FRIDAY 
UNDERSTANDING 
THAT MY GOAL IS 
TO REACH THAT 
CHILD. 
>> Reporter: 
ABOUT A GET IT, 
THE 2020 SCHOOL 
YEAR IS GOING TO 
BE VERY 
DIFFERENT. 
>> THERE IS NO 
WAY TO ELIMINATE 
IT. 
YOU CAN REDUCE IT
FOR TEACHERS AND 
ADMINISTRATORS. 
WE HAVE SEEN 
FROM OTHER 
PLACES AROUND 
THE WORLD, THAT 
WHEN YOU DO 
THAT, SCHOOLS 
ARE NOT THE 
SOURCE OF 
OUTBREAKS. 
IT IS GENERALLY 
A MANAGEABLE 
RISK. 
>> Reporter: 
SEVERAL DOCTORS 
BELIEVE THAT 
KIDS IN LOW 
COVID EXPOSURE 
AREAS SHOULD BE 
ABLE TO RESUME 
SCHOOL WITHOUT 
MUCH OF A 
PROBLEM. 
BUT IN AREAS 
RIGHT NOW THAT 
ARE HOT ZONES, 
AND HOW QUICKLY 
THIS VIRUS IS 
PRETTY, IT IS 
ENTIRELY 
POSSIBLE SOME 
KIDS WILL BE 
ONLINE ALL YEAR. 
LESTER? 
>> I LOVE THE 
CORONA ACADEMY. 
THANKS VERY MUCH.
NO GROUP HAS A 
GREATER STAKE IN 
SAFELY REOPENING 
SCHOOLS AND 
TEACHERS. 
HERE IN NEW 
YORK, ONCE THE 
COUNTRY'S BIGGEST
HOTSPOT, BUT NOW 
RELATIVELY UNDER 
CONTROL, SOME 
TEACHERS ARE 
CONCERNED ABOUT 
THE CITY'S PLANS 
TO REOPEN ITS 
1800 SCHOOLS FOR 
A MIX OF IN-
PERSON INTRO 
CLASSES. 
NBC NEWS 
CORRESPONDENT 
ANTONIA HILTON 
SPOKE WITH SOME 
OF THEM. 
>> Reporter: 
ANGELO HAS TAUGHT
SPECIAL 
EDUCATION IN NEW 
YORK CITY FOR 
SEVEN YEARS. 
HE IS USED TO 
CHALLENGING 
ENVIRONMENTS. 
RETURNING TO THE 
CLASSROOM IN THE 
MIDST OF THE 
PANDEMIC DOESN'T 
SIT RIGHT. 
>> I FEEL SO 
DISCONNECTED 
FROM REALITY. 
>> Reporter: 
WHAT ARE YOUR 
PERSONAL FEARS 
ABOUT WHAT IT 
WOULD MEAN FOR 
YOU TO BE BACK 
IN THE BUILDING 
WITH YOUR KIDS? 
MY FEAR IS THAT 
ONE OF MY KIDS 
WOULD GET IT OR 
THAT THEY WOULD 
DIE. 
THAT IS THE 
WORST CASE 
SCENARIO. 
OR SOMEBODY WITH 
CONTRACT IT AND 
SPREAD IT TO 
THEIR FAMILY. 
>> Reporter: NEW 
YORK CITY 
LEADERS 
ANNOUNCED THAT 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
WOULD RETURN TO 
A MIX OF IN-
CLASS AND 
PROMOTE 
INSTRUCTION. 
THEY ARE 
CONSIDERING [ 
INAUDIBLE ]  
>> [ CROWD 
CHANTING ] 
>> Reporter: THE 
CITY CONSULTED 
CLOSELY WITH 
UNION LEADERSHIP 
ON REOPENING 
PLANS. 
SOME TEACHERS 
FELT LIKE THERE 
VOICES WEREN'T 
BEING HEARD. 
>> [ CROWD 
CHANTING ] 
>> Reporter: BY 
CITY LEADERS. 
>> WHAT I HAVE 
HEARD FROM 
PARENTS IS THAT 
THEY NEED THEIR 
CHILDREN IN 
SCHOOL. 
THE 1.1 MILLION 
CHILDREN IN NEW 
YORK CITY, WE 
HAVE A LITTLE 
OVER 300,000 
FAMILIES THAT 
HAVE ELECTED TO 
START THE SCHOOL 
YEAR REMOTE 
LEARNING. 
THAT IS THREE 
QUARTERS OF 
FAMILIES THAT AS 
OF RIGHT NOW ARE 
SAYING, WE WILL 
GO TO A BLENDED 
LEARNING 
ENVIRONMENT AS 
LONG AS IT'S 
SAFE. 
>> Reporter: HOW 
THE CITY 
RESPONDS IF 
TEACHERS DECIDE 
TO STRIKE? 
>> I DON'T KNOW. 
I AM APPEALING 
TO TEACHERS TO 
SAY WE HEAR YOU. 
WE UNDERSTAND. 
THIS IS BASED ON 
THE MEDICAL 
SCIENCE, AND WE 
HAVE SET 
THRESHOLDS THAT 
IF THAT NUMBER 
STARTS CREEPING 
THE OTHER WAY, 
WE WILL PIVOT TO 
REMOTE LEARNING 
WITHOUT 
HESITATION. 
I'M JUST 
APPEALING TO 
TEACHERS TO 
UNDERSTAND THAT 
OUR CHILDREN 
NEED US. 
THEY NEED IS NOW 
MORE THAN EVER. 
>> Reporter: 
SOME OF THEM 
FEEL AS THOUGH 
RANK-AND-FILE 
EDUCATORS WORKED 
BROUGHT TO THE 
TABLE IN THE 
NEGOTIATION 
AROUND REOPENING.
WHY WEREN'T 
REGULAR 
EDUCATORS 
INCLUDED IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS? 
>> I HAVEN'T HAD 
A NUMBER OF -- I 
HAVE HAD A 
NUMBER OF TOWN 
HALLS WERE 
TEACHER HAS BEEN 
HERE. 
I KNOW THE UST 
WHICH REPRESENTS 
TEACHERS HAS 
BEEN WORKING 
WITH THE 
SHOULDER TO 
SHOULDER. 
I HAVE BEEN A 
TEACHER AS WELL. 
THERE ARE SCARY 
TIMES FOR ALL OF 
US. 
>> Reporter: 
VANESSA PLANS TO 
RETURN TO TEACH 
ENGLISH AT HER 
HIGH SCHOOL IN 
BROOKLYN. 
SHE LOVES HER 
STUDENTS, BUT 
SHE IS WORRIED 
ABOUT HER 
FAMILY. 
>> I WOULD BE 
PUTTING MY MOM 
AT RISK OF 
COVID. 
SHE HAS HIGH 
BLOOD PRESSURE. 
SHE IS 
UNDOCUMENTED, SO 
SHE HAS NO 
HEALTH 
INSURANCE. 
IF SHE WERE TO 
GET SICK, I 
DON'T KNOW IF 
SHE WOULD WANT 
TO GO TO A 
HOSPITAL BECAUSE 
OF HER STATUS. 
>> Reporter: TO 
WHAT EXTENT DOES 
YOUR FAMILY 
DEPEND ON YOU 
BEING ABLE TO 
WORK? 
>> A LOT. 
>> Reporter: ALEX
HAS A 2-YEAR-OLD 
DAUGHTER. 
HER EX-PARTNER 
IS ALSO A 
TEACHER. 
THEY ALSO DON'T 
KNOW HOW THEY 
WILL JUGGLE 
CHILDCARE. 
>> WE ALL CAME 
INTO THIS WITH 
THE IDEA THAT WE 
WANT TO DO THIS 
JOB, TO SERVE 
CHILDREN AND DO 
OUR BEST. 
IN GOOD TIMES, 
IT'S 
FRUSTRATING. 
BUT IN TIMES 
LIKE THIS, IT'S 
TERRIFYING. 
>> THAT WAS 
ANTONIA HILTON 
REPORTING 
EARLIER TODAY, I 
SPOKE WITH THE 
DIRECTOR OF THE 
CENTERS FOR 
DISEASE CONTROL 
AND PREVENTION, 
DR. REDFIELD, 
WHO HAD A DIRE 
WARNING ABOUT 
WHAT THE FALL 
SEASON TO BRING. 
WE TALKED ABOUT 
RECENT CASES FOR 
KIDS HAVE GONE 
BACK TO SCHOOL 
AND CLASSES 
REOPENED ONLY TO 
HAVE THOSE KIDS 
IN THE BIN 
QUARANTINE DAYS 
LATER. 
I ASKED HIM WHAT 
MESSAGE THAT 
SINCE TWO OTHER 
SCHOOLS STILL ON 
THE FENCE ABOUT 
WHAT TO DO. 
>> I THINK THE 
MOST IMPORTANT 
THING, LESTER, 
IS TO REALIZE 
THAT SCHOOLS 
AREN'T, THEY ARE 
NOT ONLY CENTRAL 
TO THE CHILD'S 
ACADEMIC 
SUCCESS, BUT 
THEY REALLY ARE 
IMPORTANT TO 
PROVIDE THE 
MENTAL, 
NUTRITIONAL, 
EMOTIONAL 
SUPPORT TO 
CHILDREN AND 
THEIR FAMILIES. 
THIS IS WHY WE 
BELIEVE IT'S IN 
THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH INTEREST 
TO K-12 TO GET 
BACK TO SCHOOL. 
THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THING 
TO IMPACT WHAT 
YOU JUST SAID 
ABOUT KIDS BEING 
FOUND TO BE 
COVID POSITIVE 
IN THE SCHOOL IS 
TO CONTINUE TO 
GET CONTROL OF 
THE TRANSMISSION 
WITHIN THE 
COMMUNITY. 
AGAIN, MANY OF 
THESE CHILDREN 
OBVIOUSLY GOT 
INFECTED IN THE 
COMMUNITY 
SETTING. 
THIS IS GOING TO 
BE ONE OF THE 
CHALLENGES, TO 
MAKE SURE WE 
CONTINUE TO MAKE 
PROGRESS ON 
COMMUNITY 
TRANSMISSION IN 
THE COMMUNITIES 
THAT OPENED AND 
IT IS IN THE 
BEST INTEREST OF 
OUR SOCIETY TO 
WORK TOWARD FACE-
TO-FACE LEARNING.
>> IN SCHOOLS 
AND COMMUNITIES 
WRESTLING WITH 
AN OUTBREAK, 
SHOULD THEY BE 
FEELING PRESSURE 
FROM THE CDC AND 
THE WHITE HOUSE 
RIGHT NOW TO 
OPEN CLASSROOMS? 
OR WOULD YOU 
GIVE THEM THE 
SPACE TO MAKE 
THAT DECISION? 
>> WE DON'T WANT 
TO PRESSURE 
ANYBODY. 
OUR GUIDANCE IS 
THERE TO HELP 
THEM BEGIN TO 
OPEN, AS I SAID, 
SAFELY AND 
SENSIBLY. THE 
TIMING OF THAT 
IS GOING TO HAVE 
TO BE DECIDED 
ONE SCHOOL AT A 
TIME. 
WE ARE THERE TO 
HELP PROVIDE 
TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE. 
>> I THINK A LOT 
OF PEOPLE, WITH 
YOUR ASSESSMENT 
OF WHAT THE FALL 
COULD BRING, WE 
HAVE THE FLU 
SEASON COMING 
UP. 
YOU AND I BOTH 
KNOW THAT EVEN 
WITHOUT COVID, 
SCHOOLS CAN BE 
PETRI DISHES 
SOMETIMES. 
WALKED ME 
THROUGH WHAT WE 
MIGHT EXPECT, 
NOT ONLY IN 
SCHOOLS, BUT 
ELSEWHERE. 
>> THANK YOU, 
LESTER. 
I THINK IT'S 
REALLY IMPORTANT 
THAT THE 
EMPHASIS I'M 
TRYING TO MAKE 
THAT I 
PERSONALLY 
BELIEVE THAT THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC 
IS TAKING HEED 
TO THE MESSAGES 
WE HAVE SAID, 
THE POWERFUL 
WEAPONS WE HAVE. 
UNIVERSAL FACE 
MASKS, 
DISTANCING, 
WASHING HANDS, 
AND BEING SMART 
ABOUT CROWDS. 
WE DO THAT. 
WE ARE GOING TO 
HAVE A 
SIGNIFICANT 
IMPACT ON COVID, 
AND WE ARE GOING 
TO HAVE A 
SIGNIFICANT 
IMPACT ON FLUE. 
I WANT PARENTS 
TO REALIZE, THIS 
IS TIME TO 
EMBRACE THE FLU 
VACCINE WITH 
CONFIDENCE. 
NORMALLY ONLY 
ABOUT 50% OF THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC 
TAKE ADVANTAGE 
OF THE FLU 
VACCINE. 
IF WE CHOOSE NOT 
TO GET 
VACCINATED, NOT 
TO EMBRACE THESE 
MITIGATION 
STRATEGIES, IT 
COULD BE A VERY 
DIFFICULT TIME. 
I DON'T BELIEVE 
THAT'S WHAT'S 
GOING TO HAPPEN. 
I BELIEVE THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE 
ARE GOING TO 
EMBRACE THE 
STRATEGIES, AND 
AS A 
CONSEQUENCE, GET 
VACCINATED FOR 
FLU, AND WE ARE 
GOING TO GET 
THROUGH THIS 
PANDEMIC FLU 
SEASON TOGETHER. 
I'M OPTIMISTIC, 
CAUTIOUSLY, THAT 
SOMETIME IN THE 
LATE FALL, EARLY 
WINTER, WE WILL 
HAVE AN 
ADDITIONAL HELP 
WHICH WILL BE 
THE BEGINNING OF 
HAVING A SAFE 
AND EFFICACIOUS 
COVID-19 VACCINE 
THAT WE CAN 
BEGIN TO APPLY 
TO HELP COUNTER 
THIS PANDEMIC. 
>> YOU HAVE SEEN 
PROBABLY THE 
THING PICTURES 
WE HAVE BEEN 
SHARING EVERY 
WEEKEND IT SEEMS 
WE END UP WITH 
THESE PICTURES 
OF MASS 
GATHERINGS, 
PEOPLE NOT 
WEARING MASKS, 
IGNORING THOSE 
RULES. 
IF THAT CONTINUES
, FLIP THIS 
UPSIDE DOWN. 
WHAT ARE WE 
LOOKING AT? 
>> WHAT I WOULD 
LIKE TO DO IS 
SEE HOW WE CAN 
GET THE COUNTER 
STORY OUT THERE, 
TOO, WHERE WE DO 
SEE UNIVERSAL 
MASKS. 
I THINK THAT'S 
WHY I SAID IT 
WAS A TALE OF 
TWO CITIES 
BETWEEN WHETHER 
WE HAVE TWO 
PANDEMICS 
OCCURRING AT THE 
SAME TIME OR 
WHETHER WE ARE 
ABLE TO USE 
THESE TOOLS TO 
MITIGATE THEM. 
I'M STILL GOING 
TO PUT MY 
CONFIDENCE WITH 
THE AMERICAN 
PUBLIC, THAT 
THEY ARE GOING 
TO EMBRACE FLU 
VACCINE, EMBRACE 
THESE MITIGATION 
STEPS. 
WE ARE SEEING A 
CHANGE IN THE 
NUMBER OF 
JURISDICTIONS NOW
THAT HAVE AN 
UPWARD TRAJECTORY
. 
>> AS YOU KNOW, 
PARENTS RIGHT NOW
, THEY JUST 
REALLY WANT SOME 
GUIDANCE. 
THEY WANT 
SOMEBODY IN 
AUTHORITY WITH 
THE KNOWLEDGE TO 
SAY, IT'S OKAY 
TO CENSURE CHILD 
BACK. 
IT'S GOING TO BE 
OKAY. 
OR MAYBE IT'S 
NOT. 
WHAT YOU SAY TO 
FOLKS WATCHING 
RIGHT NOW WHO 
REALLY NEED TO 
HEAR FROM YOU OR 
SOMEONE LIKE 
YOU? 
>> I THINK IT'S 
AN IMPORTANT 
THING. 
WE HAVE TRIED TO 
PUT OUT 
CHECKLISTS FOR 
PARENTS, AS YOU 
KNOW, THAT WE'VE 
RECENTLY PUT OUT 
TO HELP THEM 
MAKE THE DECISION
. WE ARE GOING 
TO BE PUTTING 
OUT ADDITIONAL 
REFERENCE 
MATERIAL TO 
HELP, BASED ON 
THE AMOUNT OF 
TRANSMISSION IN 
DIFFERENT AREAS. 
I THINK IT'S 
IMPORTANT FOR 
PEOPLE TO REALIZE
, THIS IS A 
PROCESS. NOT 
EVERYBODY HAS TO 
RUN AT THE SAME 
PACE. WE HAVE TO 
REBUILD THE 
CONFIDENCE. 
CLEARLY, THOSE 
AREAS THAT ARE 
HAVING LIMITED 
TRANSMISSION, WE 
CALL THE GREEN 
ZONES, ARE GREAT 
PLACES TO START. 
IN RED ZONES, 
ONE HAS TO BE 
MORE CAUTIOUS. 
I DON'T WANT TO 
PONTIFICATE THAT 
YES, YOU HAVE TO 
OPEN IF YOU ARE 
GREEN, AND NO, 
YOU CAN'T OPEN 
IF YOU ARE RED. 
I THINK WE HAVE 
TO TAKE EACH OF 
THESE SITUATIONS 
AND EVALUATE 
THEM WITH UNIQUE 
CIRCUMSTANCES. 
>> YOU MADE THE 
PEACH FOR THE 
FLU VACCINE. 
THE ANTI-VACCINE 
MOVEMENT IS ON 
IN THE COUNTRY. 
ARE YOU WORRIED 
ABOUT ACCEPTANCE 
OF THE VACCINE 
IN SCHOOLS? 
>> YES. 
AND THIS IS WHY 
I REALLY CALL ON 
MY COLLEAGUES. 
I'M A PHYSICIAN 
BY TRAINING. 
I CALL ON 
PHYSICIANS, 
NURSE 
PRACTITIONERS, 
PAS, NURSES, THE 
MEDICAL COMMUNITY
TO INVEST THE 
TIME. IT DOESN'T 
HELP TO RIDICULE 
APPARENT THAT'S 
NERVOUS ABOUT 
VACCINES. 
WE ARE ALL 
NERVOUS ABOUT 
MAKING A MISTAKE 
FOR THE HEALTH 
OF OUR CHILDREN 
AND 
GRANDCHILDREN. 
TAKE TIME TO 
WORK WITH THOSE 
INDIVIDUALS SO 
THAT THEY CAN 
UNDERSTAND WHERE 
THEY SHOULD BE 
NERVOUS IF THEY 
ARE LEAVING THIS 
VEXING ON THE 
SHELF. 
THEY WANT THEIR 
GRANDCHILDREN, 
THEIR CHILDREN 
TO BENEFIT FROM 
IT. 
THE THING FOR 
THE PEOPLE THAT 
HAVE BEEN 
MISINFORMED. 
IS A LOT OF 
PEOPLE THAT ARE 
MISINFORMED. 
YOU CAN'T CHANGE 
THEIR VIEW BY 
JUST TELLING THEM
, YOU NEED TO 
CHANGE YOUR 
VIEW. 
I DON'T AGREE 
WITH YOU. 
IT'S GOING TO 
TAKE TIME AND 
DIALOGUE TO MOVE 
INDIVIDUALS FROM 
WHAT I CALL 
VEXING 
HESITANCY, FROM 
EITHER FEAR OR 
MISINFORMATION, 
TO BRING THEM 
INTO WHAT I AM 
TRYING TO COIN, 
VEXING WITH 
CONFIDENCE. 
I NEED BASICALLY 
MY MEDICAL 
COMMUNITY TO GO 
ALL IN ON THIS. 
I NEED THOSE 
INDIVIDUALS TO 
UNDERSTAND THE 
VALUE OF THIS 
IMPORTANT, MOST 
POWERFUL 
SCIENTIFIC GIFT 
TO MODERN 
MEDICINE, 
VACCINATION, TO 
EMBRACE THAT 
VACCINE. 
DON'T LEAVE IT 
ON THE SHELF FOR 
THE CHILDREN, 
THE COMMUNITY, 
AND THEIR FAMILY.
>> DR. L FIELDS, 
WE APPRECIATE 
YOU TAKING TIME. 
I HOPE WE CAN DO 
IT AGAIN AT SOME 
POINT. 
>> I HOPE SO. 
THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH. 
GOD BLESS YOU. 
>> WE WILL TAKE 
A BREAK. 
WE WILL HAVE 
MUCH MORE AHEAD. 
WE GO ON CAMPUS 
TO MICHIGAN 
STATE TO SEE HOW 
COLLEGES ARE 
COPING AND WHAT 
THIS MEANS FOR 
THE COLLEGE 
FOOTBALL SEASON. 
WE WILL HAVE A 
BIT OF 
PERSPECTIVE FROM 
SOME OF THE KIDS 
AT THE CENTER OF 
ALL THIS IN 
THEIR OWN WORDS. 
>>> I AM 
CONCERNED THAT 
IF I DO CATCH 
CORONAVIRUS, I 
WILL BRING YOU 
BACK TO MY 
FAMILY. 
I'M CONCERNED 
ABOUT THAT, BUT 
IT'S VERY 
UNLIKELY. 
IF I STAY 
CAUTIOUS. 
>>> I FOUND A
FATHER TRYING TO 
TEACH HIS SON 
ABOUT PEACE. 
>> WE DON'T HAVE 
TO RETALIATE 
WITH ANGER. 
WE RETALIATE 
WITH LOVE. 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
DOWN HERE. 
THERE'S ALWAYS 
ANOTHER WAY. 
SO THAT'S ALL I 
WANT HIM TO SEE. 
>>> WHEN YOU 
NEED BRUTAL 
HONESTY. 
>> THIS ISN'T 
ABOUT DONALD 
TRUMP. 
THIS IS ABOUT 
400 YEARS OF 
RACISM. 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
ANSWERS FIRST 
THING IN THE 
MORNING. 
>> WHAT NEEDS TO 
BE DONE TO MAKE 
BALLOTS READY TO 
GO FOR THE 
PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION IN 
NOVEMBER? 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
TO GO DEEP 
INSIDE THE 
STORY.  
>> HOW DO I 
CONVINCE THEM TO 
LET ME GO TO 
SCHOOL? 
♪
♪
>>> YOU'RE 
WATCHING NBC 
NEWS NOW. 
WE'VE GOT SOME 
BREAKING NEWS. 
>> IF THEY DO GO 
BACK TO THEIR 
JOBS, THEY WANT 
TO MAKE SURE 
THAT THEY ARE 
PROTECTED. 
>> IT'S NEWS 
MADE FOR YOUR 
STREAMING WORLD. 
LIVE WEEKDAYS 
STARTING AT 6:00 
A.M. 
EASTERN.  
>>> MY PARENTS 
ARE A LITTLE BIT 
WORRIED. 
THEY DON'T REALLY
WANT ME GOING TO 
SCHOOL BUT THEY 
WOULD RATHER 
HAVE ME DOING 
REMOTE LEARNING. 
I WANT TO 
EXPERIENCE THAT. 
I WANT TO 
CONVINCE HIM TO 
LET ME GO TO 
SCHOOL. 
>> FOR SOME 
STUDENTS, GOING 
BACK INTO THE 
CLASSROOM IS NOT 
A CHOICE. 
FOR SO MANY 
STUDENTS 
ATTENDING CLASSES
REMOTELY THIS 
FALL, MANY 
FAMILIES ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY ARE 
NAVIGATING 
UNCHARTED 
TERRITORY. 
PARENTS ALREADY 
STRUGGLING TO 
MAKE ENDS MEET 
MUST NOW JUGGLE 
WORK AND HAVING 
THE KIDS AT HOME 
ALL DAY. 
SENIOR BUSINESS 
CORRESPONDENT 
STEPHANIE RUHLE 
HAS BEEN LOOKING 
AT THAT. 
GOOD EVENING. 
>> Reporter: 
GOOD EVENING, 
LESTER. 
SO MANY EMILY'S 
ARE LIVING 
PAYCHECK TO 
PAYCHECK, EVEN 
BEFORE COVID. 
SO MANY SCHOOLS 
WILL BE VIRTUAL 
THIS FALL. 
SOME PARENTS ARE 
FORCED TO MAKE 
IMPOSSIBLE 
CHOICES, TO KEEP 
PAYING BILLS AND 
ALSO KEEP THEIR 
KIDS' EDUCATION 
ON TRACK. 
THE FAMILY 
STARTED 2020 ON 
SHAKY GROUND. 
>> WE WERE 
REALLY THINKING 
LITERALLY, WHERE 
ARE WE GOING TO 
LIVE IF WE 
CANNOT CONTINUE 
TO PAY OUR 
BILLS? 
>> Reporter: 
THINGS BEGAN 
LOOKING UP THIS 
SPRING WHEN 
CHRIS, AN AIR 
FORCE COMBAT 
VETERAN WHO 
SERVED IN IRAQ 
AND AFGHANISTAN, 
FINALLY LANDED A 
STEADY JOB IN AN 
IRRIGATION 
COMPANY. 
THEY WERE 
CLIMBING OUT OF 
DEBT, BUT COVID 
HAD OTHER PLANS. 
>> WE CANNOT 
NECESSARILY MAKE 
THE CHOICE THAT 
ONE OF US IS 
GOING TO HAVE TO 
LEAVE OUR JOBS 
TO BE ABLE TO 
HELP WITH OUR 
SON DURING THE 
DAY. 
>> Reporter: 
THERE 6-YEAR-OLD 
STARTED FIRST 
GRADE REMOTELY 
AT HIS HOME IN 
TEXAS. 
THEY ARE 
STRUGGLING WITH 
DOUBLE PARENTING 
AND WORK. 
>> I FEEL LIKE 
I'M SPREAD SO 
THIN. 
>> Reporter: 
MANY OTHERS RELY 
ON HER AT THE 
TEXAS CLINIC 
WHERE SHE IS A 
PEDIATRIC NURSE. 
>> YOU HAVE TO 
USE YOUR HEART. 
IT ALSO CAUSES 
SUCH 
CONFLICTION. 
SHOULD I GIVE 
THAT MUCH? 
THE ONE THAT 
SUFFERS IN THE 
END IS OUR 
LITTLE BOY. 
>> Reporter: 85% 
OF THEIR INCOME 
GOES TO BILLS. 
THEY FEAR THE 
COST OF 
CHILDCARE AND SAY
TO BE ABLE TO 
STAY HOME, THEY 
WON'T BE ABLE TO 
SURVIVE. 
>> WE HAVE 
STRIVED TO WHAT 
WE CAN. 
CABLE, INTERNET, 
INSURANCE, 
GROCERIES, EVEN 
OUR HEALTH 
INSURANCE. 
>> Reporter: NOW 
MILLIONS OF 
PARENTS 
NATIONWIDE ARE 
IN THE SAME 
BOAT. 
IN ABC NEWS 
SURVEY, 45% OF 
FAMILIES SAY 
THEY HAVE HAD TO 
REEVALUATE THEIR 
BUDGET. 
6 IN 10 SAID 
THEY OR THEIR 
SPOUSE HAVE HAD 
TO CHANGE WORK 
HOURS. 
4 IN 10 SAY 
THEIR FINANCIAL 
STABILITY HAS 
BEEN AFFECTED. 
A LOT OF FOLKS I 
HAVE SPOKEN TO 
REFER TO THIS AS 
OTHER CHAOS. 
ARE THE PARENTS 
OUT THERE 
DECIDING BETWEEN 
CARING FOR THE 
CHILDREN IN 
PERSON OR BEING 
ABLE TO WORK AND 
AFFORD TO FEED 
THEIR CHILDREN? 
>> I THINK 
PARTICULARLY, 
FOR SINGLE 
PARENTS WHO HAVE 
TO HOLD BOTH 
ROLES, THERE IS 
A PRIMARY 
CAREGIVER TO 
THEIR CHILDREN, 
AND THERE IS THE 
PRIMARY 
BREADWINNER. 
>> Reporter: LIKE
THE TOSHA, A NEW 
JERSEY SINGLE MOM
WITH THREE KIDS. 
WHAT IS THE 
NUMBER ONE THING 
ON YOUR MIND 
RIGHT NOW? 
>> FINANCES. 
MY CHILDREN. 
>> Reporter: 
KENDRICK IS 
CONFUSED. OF HER 
KIDS HAVE TO 
LEARN AT HOME, 
IT WILL DESTROY 
ALL OF HER 
PROGRESS. 
>> I WOULD QUIT 
IF I HAD TO. 
>> Reporter: YOU 
WOULDN'T BE ABLE 
TO GET 
UNEMPLOYMENT. 
HOW SCARY IS 
THIS?. 
IT'S VERY SCARY. 
THEY NEED A ROOF 
OVER THEIR 
HEADS. 
FOOD ON THE 
TABLE. 
>> Reporter: SHE 
SAYS SHE WORKS 
FOR MINIMUM 
WAGE. 
SHE GETS SOME 
ASSISTANCE, BUT 
HER MONEY GOES 
STRAIGHT TO 
ESSENTIAL BILLS. 
WHEN YOU HEAR 
PEOPLE SAY 
THERE'S TONS OF 
JOBS OUT THERE 
THAT PEOPLE 
WOULD RATHER 
STAY AT HOME -- 
>> I DON'T WANT 
TO STAY AT HOME. 
BUT IF I HAVE TO 
FOR THE SAKE OF 
MY KIDS, I WILL. 
>> Reporter: 
PARENTS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY 
MAKING 
UNBEARABLE 
CHOICES AS THEIR 
CHILDREN'S 
EDUCATION HANGS 
IN THE BALANCE. 
>> WE ARE TRYING 
TO RATIONALIZE 
HOW WE ARE GOING 
TO SURVIVE. 
WE KNOW THAT WE 
CANNOT AFFORD TO 
STAY HOME LIKE 
MANY OTHER 
FAMILIES. 
>> Reporter: THE 
MULLINS ARE 
STILL FIGURING 
OUT WHAT TO DO. 
ONE OPTION IS TO 
SEND THEIR YOUNG 
SON ACROSS THE 
STATE TO FAMILY 
WHO CAN HELP 
FACILITATE 
ONLINE LEARNING. 
BUT LESTER, NO 
PARENTS WANT TO 
SEND HER CHILD 
AWAY. 
IN LATOSHA'S 
CASE, HER SCHOOL 
DISTRICT STILL 
HASN'T GIVEN A 
FINAL ANSWER ON 
WHETHER HER KIDS 
WILL BE BACK IN 
SCHOOL OR AT 
HOME. 
VERY DIFFICULT. 
LESTER? 
>> A LOT OF 
FAMILIES FIND 
THAT STORY VERY 
FAMILIAR. 
AS WE HAVE SEEN, 
THERE IS NO ONE 
SOLUTION TO 
REOPENING 
SCHOOLS. 
SOME HAVE OPENED 
THEIR DOORS. 
SUMMER VIRTUAL. 
OTHERS ARE 
TRYING A MIX OF 
BOTH. 
NBC INVESTIGATORS
REPORTER VICKI 
WHEN PAID A 
VISIT TO THE NEW 
YORK SCHOOL 
DISTRICT WHERE 
IN PERSON 
CLASSES HAVE 
ALREADY BEGUN. 
PRECAUTIONS ARE 
IN PLACE, AND 
THE FUTURE IS 
UNKNOWN. 
>> Reporter: 
LESTER, I AM 
HERE FROM THE 
PLEASANTVILLE 
HIGH SCHOOL. 
IT IS JUST 
OUTSIDE OF NEW 
YORK CITY. 
THIS DISTRICT 
SERVES ABOUT 
1700 STUDENTS, 
KINDERGARTEN ALL 
THE WAY THROUGH 
12th GRADE. 
I GOT A CHANCE 
TO GO INSIDE TO 
SHOW YOU WHAT 
THEY ARE DOING 
TO PROTECT 
STUDENTS AND 
TEACHERS. 
IT COULD BE A 
PREVIEW OF 
WHAT'S COMING TO 
A SCHOOL NEAR 
YOU. 
DROP OFF IS 
DIFFERENT. 
TEMPERATURE 
CHECKS AND 
PARENTS FILLING 
OUT A HEALTH 
QUESTIONNAIRE 
EACH MORNING. 
>> THANK YOU SO 
MUCH. 
>> IS YOUR CHILD 
EXHIBITING ANY 
SORT OF 
SYMPTOMS, COVID-
RELATED? 
>> Reporter: 
ADDED SAFETY 
MEASURES. 
IMPORTANT TO 
KAREN DUNLAP AND 
HER DAUGHTER. 
>> AT THE RISK 
OF HER NOT 
HAVING ACCESS TO 
EDUCATION, 
EITHER WAY THE 
OTHER RISKS. 
>> Reporter: THE 
KIDS IN THIS 
EXTENDED SUMMER 
PROGRAM WITH 
SPECIAL NEEDS. 
AS WE SAW, FACE 
TO FACE CONTACT 
CREATES VALUABLE 
LEARNING MOMENTS.
>> SHE IS 
LEARNING TO 
SPEAK SPANISH. 
>> Reporter: TO 
SPEAK SPANISH? 
>> YES. 
[ SPEAKING 
FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
]  
>> Reporter: 
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
>> I LIKE 
HISTORY AND 
STUFF. 
>> Reporter: YOU 
ARE ENTERING 
INTO WHAT IS OUR 
K, 1, AND 2 
SPACE. 
MARY IS THE 
SUPERINTENDENT 
OF THE 
PLEASANTVILLE 
SCHOOL DISTRICT 
OUR CAMERAS WERE 
ALLOWED INSIDE 
ONLY AFTER 
STUDENTS LEFT 
THE DAY. 
ONE OF THE BIG 
CONCERNS IS 
INDOOR AIR 
QUALITY. 
WHAT ARE YOU 
DOING?. 
WE INSTALLED 
STATE-OF-THE-ART 
AIR HANDLING 
UNITS. 
WE HAVE THIS 
WONDERFUL SYSTEM 
TO BRING IN AS 
MUCH FRESH AIR 
AS POSSIBLE AND 
TO REMOVE THE 
AIR IN THE 
CLASSROOMS. 
>> Reporter: 
FROM SOCIALLY 
DISTANCE DESKS 
IN EACH 
CLASSROOM TO 
SANITIZER 
STATION, THE 
SCHOOL ALSO 
ORDERED PORTABLE 
THINGS TO HELP 
WITH 
HANDWASHING. 
AND AFTER FIVE 
MINUTES, 
CUSTODIANS 
FINALLY RECEIVED 
THESE 360 
CLEANING 
MACHINES THAT 
DISINFECT 
CLASSROOMS. 
THE DISTRICT 
PREPARED TO 
REOPEN UNDER 
THREE SCENARIOS, 
ALSO IS BACK IN 
PERSON, A HYBRID 
SCHEDULE WITH 
HIM AT-HOME 
LEARNING, AND 
REMOTE LEARNING 
FOR ALL 
STUDENTS. 
HOW DID YOU PLAN 
FOR ALL THE 
SCENARIOS? 
>> I HAVE A 
DISTRICT 
COMMITTEE. 
WE HAVE ASKED 
FOR VOLUNTEERS 
FROM THE MEDICAL 
IMMUNITY, 
TEACHERS, 
PARENTS. 
FEEDBACK IS 
CRITICALLY 
IMPORTANT TO THE 
WORK WE ARE 
DOING RIGHT NOW. 
>> Reporter: I 
SAT DOWN WITH A 
GROUP OF 
TEACHERS TO ASK 
CANDOR 
CONVERSATION 
ABOUT RETURNING 
TO SCHOOL. 
FOR ANY OF YOU 
ANXIOUS ABOUT 
COMING BACK TO 
SCHOOL? 
>> I WOULDN'T 
SAY ANXIOUS. 
>> WE LOOK AT 
THE INFORMATION 
OUT THERE AND 
CAME UP WITH A 
PLAN. 
>> THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THING 
IS MAKING SURE 
EVERYONE IS SAFE 
AND HEALTHY. 
>> Reporter: 
WHAT WERE SOME 
OF THE BIGGEST 
CHALLENGES TO 
MAKING SURE YOUR 
CLASSROOM IS 
READY AND THAT 
YOUR LESSON 
PLANS WOULD BE 
READY? 
>> I THINK IT 
WAS THE LESSON 
PLANS WE WERE 
ABLE TO DO. 
IT WAS MORE 
EXECUTING IT 
THAT WAS A 
CHALLENGE 
BECAUSE WE ARE 
VERY ONE-ON-ONE, 
HANDS-ON, A LOT 
OF PHYSICAL 
PROCESSING WITH 
KIDS TO REDIRECT 
THEM. 
>> Reporter: I 
SEE YOU ARE 
WEARING A 
SHIELD. 
TELL ME ABOUT 
THAT. 
>> WE ARE 
TEACHING LETTER 
SOUNDS AND HOW 
TO READ AND 
BLENDING SOUNDS 
TOGETHER. 
MY MOUTH AND MY 
FACIAL 
EXPRESSION IS A 
REALLY 
IMPORTANT. 
>> Reporter: 
WHAT SHOULD KIDS 
AND PARENTS 
EXPECTED THEY 
ARE LUCKY ENOUGH 
TO COME BACK IN 
THE SCHOOL IN 
THE FALL? 
>> WEARING 
MASKS, WASHING 
HANDS.  
DEVELOPING A 
STRONG AWARENESS 
OF THEIR BODY OF 
WHERE THEY ARE 
IN PROXIMATE THE 
OF OTHER PEOPLE. 
>> IT IS ALL 
UNCHARTED WATER. 
BEING READY FOR 
THAT AND KNOW 
THAT AT ANY 
MOMENT IT COULD 
CHANGE. 
BECAUSE OF THE 
COST OF ALL 
THESE CHANGES, 
THE DISTRICT IS 
DIPPING INTO 
SAVINGS CREATED 
WHEN ALL THE 
SCHOOLS CLOSED 
EARLY LAST YEAR. 
PLUS THEY HAVE 
SAID THAT 20% OF 
EAST DEPARTMENT 
BUDGET FOR COVID-
19 FUNDS. 
LESTER? 
>> LET'S GO TO 
OUR FAMILY OF 
PANELISTS. 
WE HAVE SOME 
VIEWER-PARENTS 
QUESTIONS. 
I THINK ONE OF 
THE THINGS THAT 
FRUSTRATES PEOPLE
IS THAT THIS IS 
A MOVING TARGET. 
WE FEEL LIKE WE 
ARE PLAYING 
AMATEUR 
EPIDEMIOLOGIST. 
DO YOU THINK WE 
HAVE ENOUGH 
INFORMATION 
RIGHT NOW TO 
REALLY MAKE 
INFORMED CHOICES 
IN THIS AREA? 
>> THAT'S A VERY 
GOOD QUESTION, 
LESTER. 
IN FACT, I'M 
VERY CONCERNED 
THAT WE DON'T 
HAVE ENOUGH 
INFORMATION. 
NOR DO THE 
EXPERTS HAVE 
ENOUGH 
INFORMATION. 
IT'S NOT JUST 
PARENTS ARE 
STRUGGLING. 
WE ARE ALL 
STRUGGLING WITH 
THIS. 
IT'S ALL 
PERSONAL, BUT IS 
ALSO A MATTER OF 
PUBLIC POLICY. 
WE ARE ABOUT TO 
DO A MASSIVE 
NATIONAL 
EXPERIMENT 
INVOLVING ABOUT 
55 MILLION OR 56 
CHILDREN WHO 
WILL BE GOING 
BACK TO SOME 
FORM OF EITHER 
REMOTE LEARNING 
OR A HYBRID 
VERSION ARE BACK 
IN CLASSROOMS. 
WE HAVE A LOT TO 
WORRY ABOUT AND 
BE CONCERNED 
ABOUT. 
MAYBE WE ARE 
MOVING TOO 
QUICKLY TO GET 
CHILDREN BACK 
INTO SCHOOLS. 
MANY SCHOOLS 
WON'T HAVE THE 
VENTILATION 
SYSTEMS IN PLACE 
THEY WILL NEED. 
EVEN THOUGH THEY 
MAY BE 
PRACTICING 
HANDWASHING AND 
DISTANCING ALL 
THAT. 
WE HAVE A LOT OF 
CONCERNS, 
INCLUDING ME 
PERSONALLY WITH 
FOUR 
GRANDCHILDREN IN 
NEW YORK PUBLIC 
HEALTH SYSTEMS. 
A LOT FOR 
PARENTS TO BE 
CONCERNED ABOUT 
AND TRY TO 
PROCESS. 
>> LET'S GET 
SOME OF THE 
QUESTIONS THAT 
WERE SUBMITTED 
BY THE ADULTS. 
DR. TORRES, THIS 
QUESTION, I AM A 
PARENT OF A 15-
YEAR-OLD WHO IS 
ABOUT TO BEGIN 
THE 10th GRADE. 
MY CONCERN IS 
WHEN FLU SEASON 
HITS, WHAT ARE 
THE EXPERTS' 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
WHEN IT COMES TO 
COUGHING, 
SNEEZING, AND 
RUNNING NOSES? 
>> SHE IS A 
GREAT QUESTION. 
TYPICALLY, IN A 
FLU AND COLD 
SEASON, COST, 
SEASONED, RUNNY 
NOSE, THOSE HELP 
THE VIRUS 
SPREAD. 
WE WANT TO MAKE 
SURE THAT PEOPLE 
COVER UP AND 
WASH THEIR HANDS 
PLENTY OF TIME. 
THE MESSAGE WE 
USUALLY GIVE 
OUT. 
THE DIFFERENCE 
BEING THAT THIS 
YEAR, FOR THE 
PAST TWO MONTHS, 
WE HAVE BEEN 
PRACTICING 
COVERING UP AND 
WEARING MASKS. 
WE HAVE BEEN 
SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, 
TALKING ABOUT 
WASHING HER 
HANDS AND DOING 
THAT MANY TIMES. 
WE THINK THOSE 
MEASURES THAT 
ARE HELPING KEEP 
CORONAVIRUS 
UNDER CONTROL OR 
AT LEAST TRYING 
TO, WILL HELP 
KEEP FLU UNDER 
CONTROL BUT THAT 
IS WHAT WE ARE 
SEEN IN 
DIFFERENT PARTS 
OF THE WORLD 
WHERE THE FLU 
HAS ALREADY 
BEEN. 
THE FLU CASES 
SEEM TO BE LESS 
IN NUMBER THAN 
IN A TYPICAL 
YEAR. 
AND AGAIN, DOING 
THOSE THREE 
MEASURES, 
WEARING MASKS, 
WASHING YOUR 
HANDS, WATCHING 
SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, ARE 
EXTREMELY 
IMPORTANT. 
ANOTHER 
IMPORTANT POINT 
IS TO MAKE SURE 
YOU GET THE FLU 
SHOT THIS YEAR 
LIKE MANY 
EXPERTS HAVE 
TALKED ABOUT. 
IT'S IMPORTANT 
TO KEEP A LITTLE 
UNDER CONTROL SO 
WE CAN START 
WORKING ON 
GETTING 
CORONAVIRUS 
UNDER CONTROL, 
LESTER. 
>> ANOTHER 
QUESTION. 
IF OCCUPANCY 
PERCENTAGES ARE 
BEING ENFORCED 
INDOORS AT 
RESTAURANTS, 
SHOULD THE SAME 
SCIENCE 
INFORMING THAT 
THEY USE FOR 
SCHOOLS, 
INDOORS? 
WHAT CONTRARY 
SIGNS ALLOWS FOR 
SCHOOLS TO 
SAFELY REOPEN 
BUT INDOOR 
DINING TO BE 
RESTRICTED? 
DR. REDLENER, 
HOW ARE THE TWO 
DIFFERENT? 
>>  THAT'S A 
REALLY GREAT 
QUESTION, 
LESTER. 
IN FACT, I'M 
EVEN MORE 
CONCERNED ABOUT 
CHILDREN 
GATHERING IN 
CLOSED SPACES. 
I THINK WE HAVE 
A LOT OF 
THINKING TO DO 
ABOUT WHETHER WE 
DEMAND OR EVEN 
REQUEST THAT 
PARENTS CONSIDER 
PUTTING THEIR 
KIDS BACK IN THE 
CLASSROOMS 
WITHOUT THE 
PROPER 
PROTECTIONS THAT 
WE ARE GIVING IN 
MANY OTHER 
SETTINGS WHERE 
PEOPLE ARE 
GATHERING. 
DON'T FORGET, A 
LOT OF CHILDREN 
ARE GOING TO BE 
CARRIERS OF THIS 
CORONAVIRUS AND 
WILL BE CAPABLE 
OF SPREADING THE 
VIRUS IN 
CLASSROOMS IF 
ALL THE 
PRECAUTIONS ARE 
NOT TAKEN. 
I PERSONALLY 
WOULD BE LEANING 
TOWARDS AS MUCH 
REMOTE LEARNING 
AS POSSIBLE FOR 
THOSE FAMILIES 
THAT CAN DO IT. 
BUT IN THE 
MEANTIME, THE 
QUESTION REMAINS 
VERY PERTINENT, 
WHY IN 
RESTAURANTS ARE 
THE RULES 
DIFFERENT THAN 
THEY WOULD BE IN 
CLASSROOMS WHERE 
OUR CHILDREN ARE 
VERY, VERY 
VULNERABLE? 
>> WE HAVE 
ANOTHER QUESTION,
DR. REDLENER.  
STEPHANIE REITZ, 
MY BIGGEST 
QUESTION IS KIDS 
WITH SPECIAL 
NEEDS. 
WHAT IS GOING TO 
BE AVAILABLE TO 
THEM IF DIFFERENT
DISTANCE WARNINGS
LEARNING. 
>> Reporter: 
ABSOLUTELY. 
A LOT OF THOSE 
KIDS WITH 
SPECIAL NEEDS OR 
EVEN EDUCATIONAL 
NEEDS THAT GO 
ABOVE THE AVERAGE
WILL BE 
STRUGGLING IF 
THEY ARE NOT 
BACK IN THE 
CLASSROOM. 
WHAT NEEDS TO 
HAPPEN HERE IS 
WE NEED TO GET A 
LOT MORE MONEY 
AND FUNDING 
SUPPORT FROM THE 
FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT, FROM 
THE STATE 
GOVERNMENT, FROM 
THE DISTRICTS TO 
MAKE SURE THOSE 
CHILDREN ARE 
GETTING EXACTLY 
WHAT THEY NEED. 
THIS IS A GREAT 
TIME FOR PARENTS 
TO REALLY SEE 
THEIR ROLE AS 
ADVOCATES. IF 
YOU FEEL LIKE 
YOUR CHILDREN 
ARE NOT GETTING 
WHAT THEY NEED 
AND THEY DO HAVE 
SPECIAL NEEDS, 
GO TO THE SCHOOL.
GO TO THE 
SUPERINTENDENT. 
GO TO YOUR 
LEGISLATORS AND 
DEMAND THAT 
THESE CHILDREN 
WILL GET THE 
EXTRA SUPPORT 
THEY HAVE BEEN 
NEEDY, NO MATTER 
WHAT IT TAKES. 
IT'S REALLY 
IMPORTANT. 
THERE CAN BE 
SPECIAL 
ARRANGEMENTS 
MADE FOR YOUR 
CHILDREN. WE 
NEED TO BEND 
OVER BACKWARDS 
TO MAKE SURE 
THAT NO CHILD IS 
LEFT BEHIND IN 
TERMS OF 
EDUCATION, AND 
IN PARTICULAR, 
THOSE KIDS WITH 
MORE NEEDS THAN 
A TYPICAL CHILD. 
>> THIS QUESTION 
CAME IN 
ANONYMOUSLY. 
HOMESCHOOLING MY 
13-YEAR-OLD 
HASN'T BEEN SO 
BAD. 
IT IS FEAR AND 
ANXIETY THAT I 
STRUGGLE WITH. 
DO EXPECT ADULTS 
TO FIX ALL OF 
IT? 
WHAT DO YOU SAY 
TO THIS.? 
>> I WANT TO SAY 
THAT I THINK IT 
IS SO IMPORTANT 
THAT WE GET HELP 
AND RECOGNIZE 
THE SYMPTOMS OF 
ANXIETY AND 
DEPRESSION IN 
YOUNG PEOPLE BUT 
OFTEN IT MIGHT 
BE THAT THEY ARE 
NOT SLEEPING THE 
WAY THEY USED TO 
OR SLEEPING TOO 
MUCH. 
HER APPETITE HAS 
CHANGED. 
THEIR SELF-CARE 
AND GROOMING IS 
NOT THERE. 
THE GRADES ARE 
SLIPPING. 
THEIR INTEREST 
IN PLEASURABLE 
ACTIVITIES IS 
NOT BE. 
I WOULD SAY I'M 
SO GLAD THAT 
THIS PAIR IS 
RECOGNIZING THE 
NEED FOR MENTAL 
HEALTH HELP AND 
TO GET IT. 
IF YOU ARE LUCKY 
ENOUGH TO HAVE 
HEALTH 
INSURANCE, 
TURNED THE BACK 
OF THE CARD. 
CALL THE NUMBER. 
FIND OUT ABOUT 
TELEHEALTH 
THERAPY OPTIONS. 
IF A GUIDANCE 
COUNSELOR IS 
AVAILABLE AT 
SCHOOL, HAVE THE 
STUDENT TALK 
ABOUT IT. 
EVEN TALK ABOUT 
IT AT HOME. 
WHAT KIDS ARE 
CRATING AND WHAT 
THEY LOST WERE 
IN-PERSON 
CONNECTIONS. 
THEY LOST 
STRUCTURE, 
SUPPORT, 
STIMULATION. 
IS VERY HARD TO 
ASK PARENTS TO 
EMULATE A REGULAR
6-8 HOUR SCHOOL 
DAY. 
WE NEED TO GIVE 
COMPASSION AND 
GRACE TO THE 
PARENTS OF THIS 
A BIGGER DOING A 
GREAT JOB. 
I AM A PARENT 
MYSELF, AND THE 
HOMESCHOOLING, I 
CAN TELL YOU, IT 
IS NOT EASY. 
PARENTS ARE 
CONTENDING A 
LOT. 
THERE'S A LOT OF 
THEIR PLACE. 
IT HELPER 
YOURSELF AS A 
PAIR. 
ALL OF US NEED 
MENTAL HEALTH 
SUPPORT AT THIS 
TIME. 
60% TO 80% ARE 
EXPERIENCING 
MORE STRESS AND 
DEPRESSION. 
IT WAS ALREADY 
ONE OUT OF FOUR 
ON A GOOD DAY. 
>> IT'S SUCH AN 
IMPORTANT PART 
OF THIS 
CONVERSATION. 
DR. VARMA, I'M 
GLAD YOU ARE 
HERE. 
THANKS TO THE  
PANEL. 
WE WILL BE 
COMING BACK TO 
WALL IN A LITTLE 
WHILE. 
WHEN WE RETURN, 
GIVING IT THE 
OLD COLLEGE TRY 
IS TAKING ON A 
WHOLE NEW 
READING IN THE 
AGE OF COVID-19. 
I HOPE YOU CAN 
STAY WITH US. 
>>> I FOUND A 
FATHER TRYING TO 
TEACH HIS SON 
ABOUT PEACE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE 
TO RETALIATE 
WITH ANGER. 
WE RETALIATE 
WITH LOVE. 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
DOWN HERE. 
THERE'S ALWAYS 
ANOTHER WAY. 
SO THAT'S ALL I 
WANT HIM TO SEE. 
>>> WHEN YOU 
NEED BRUTAL 
HONESTY. 
>> THIS ISN'T 
ABOUT DONALD 
TRUMP. 
THIS IS ABOUT 
400 YEARS OF 
RACISM. 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
ANSWERS FIRST 
THING IN THE 
MORNING. 
>> WHAT NEEDS TO 
BE DONE TO MAKE 
BALLOTS READY TO 
GO FOR THE 
PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION IN 
NOVEMBER? 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
TO GO DEEP 
INSIDE THE 
STORY. 
>> WHAT'S A 
POLICY CHANGE IN 
POLICING YOU 
WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE ENACTED? 
>> HEAR FROM 
SOMEONE WHO'S 
BEEN THERE. 
>> WHO IS 
TELLING THE 
TRUTH AND WHO IS 
LYING EVERY DAY? 
THAT'S THE NEWS 
STORY AMERICANS 
WANT TO HEAR. 
>> YOU NEED YOUR 
MORNING JOE, 
ONLY ON MSNBC. 
>> WE'D LIKE TO 
THINK THAT WE 
LIVE IN SOME 
SORT OF POST-
RACIAL AMERICA. 
WE'RE REMINDED 
TIME AND TIME 
AGAIN THAT WE DO 
NOT. 
>> SO I REACHED 
OUT TO YOU AFTER 
I WATCHED THE 
MAYOR OF ATLANTA 
ACT AS A MOM 
TRYING TO RAISE 
HER SON, AND I 
THINK ABOUT YOU 
AND YOUR KIDS. 
>> I REMEMBER 
HER COMING HOME 
SAYING, WHY 
DON'T I HAVE A 
PONYTAIL LIKE 
THE WHITE GIRLS? 
IT'S OKAY TO 
NOTICE THAT 
YOU'RE 
DIFFERENT. 
YOU JUST HAVE TO 
NOT FEEL LESS 
THAN. 
THAT'S MY THING. 
>> I CHERISH THE 
FACT THAT WE CAN 
HAVE THESE 
DISCUSSIONS. 
I FEEL SAFE 
TALKING ABOUT 
THIS WITH YOU 
GUYS. 
>>> YOU'RE 
WATCHING NBC 
NEWS NOW. 
WE'VE GOT SOME 
BREAKING NEWS. 
>> WE ACTUALLY 
SAW A LARGE 
CONVOY OF THE 
NATIONAL GUARD 
COME THROUGH 
HERE. 
>> IT'S NEWS 
MADE FOR YOUR 
STREAMING WORLD. 
LIVE WEEKDAYS 
STARTING AT 6:00 
A.M. 
EASTERN. 
>>> A VIRUS THAT 
KNOWS NO 
BORDERS. 
>> A REAL 
CATASTROPHE 
HAPPENING HERE 
IN BRAZIL BEFORE 
OUR VERY EYES. 
>> OUR GLOBAL 
FIGHT AGAINST IT 
UNITES US. 
>> HERE IN 
MEXICO CITY, THE 
PEOPLE I SPOKE 
TO SAID IF THEY 
DON'T WORK, 
THEY'RE NOT 
GOING TO BE ABLE 
TO FEED THEIR 
FAMILIES. 
>> OUR NBC NEWS 
AND SKY TEAMS 
ARE ON THE 
GROUND, LEARNING 
FROM WHERE IT'S 
BEEN. 
>> THE SOUTH 
KOREAN 
GOVERNMENT IS 
BRINGING 
STUDENTS BACK 
OVER THE NEXT 
COUPLE OF WEEKS 
IN STAGES. 
>> SO THAT YOU 
CAN BETTER 
UNDERSTAND HOW 
IT WILL IMPACT 
US HERE. 
>> LIFE ACROSS 
ITALY IS BACK TO 
NORMAL. 
IT JUST DOESN'T 
LOOK LIKE THE 
SAME NORMAL AS 
BEFORE. 
>>> THE ONLY 
THING WE HAVE TO 
FEAR IS FEAR 
ITSELF. 
>> THESE ARE THE 
UNITED STATES, A 
UNITED PEOPLE 
WITH A UNITED 
PURPOSE. 
>> THE FUTURE 
DOESN'T BELONG 
TO THE 
FAINTHEARTED. 
IT BELONGS TO 
THE BRAVE. 
>> A GREAT 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
MOVED TO DEFEND 
A GREAT NATION. 
>> ALL OF US CAN 
EXTEND A HAND TO 
THOSE IN NEED. 
>>> WHAT DO YOU 
THINK NEEDS TO 
BE FIXED? 
AND WHAT WOULD 
COUNT AS JUSTICE 
IN THIS CASE? 
DO YOU HAVE 
CLARITY ON WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT 
HAS ACTUALLY 
ORDERED? 
I HAVE TO ASK 
WHETHER THE 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY 
CAN TURN THIS 
AROUND SO THAT 
THIS IS AN 
ENGINE FOR 
PROGRESSIVE 
POLITICAL 
CHANGE. 
>> PEOPLE ARE 
NOT SIX FEET 
APART FROM ONE 
ANOTHER FOR THE 
MOST PART. 
>> ARE YOU 
WORRIED THAT 
THESE TWO CRISES 
MAY DOVETAIL IN 
TERMS OF THE 
RISK OF 
TRANSMISSION AT 
THESE ONGOING 
PROTESTS?  
>>> THERE ARE 
SOME 20 MILLION 
COLLEGE STUDENTS 
IN THIS COUNTRY. 
IT IS SAFE TO 
SAY THAT 
EVERYONE OF THEM 
IS WONDERING 
TONIGHT WHAT THE 
SEMESTER HOLDS. 
WILL BE BIG 
ATTENDING 
CLASSES IN 
PERSON OR 
ONLINE? 
WILL CAMPUSES BE 
OPEN? 
AND IF SO, ARE 
THEY SAFE. 
WE HAVE TAKEN A 
CLOSER LOOK. 
>>> IT MUST BE 
THEY HAVE THIS 
COLLEGE COURSE 
IN HISTORY. 
ISN'T SAFE TO 
BRING KIDS BACK 
TO CAMPUS? 
MANY CAMPUSES 
HAVE SPENT THE 
SUMMER GRAPPLING 
WITH THE 
ENORMOUS TASK OF 
SAFELY HOSTING 
THOUSANDS OF 
YOUNG ADULTS AND 
DECIDED THEY ARE 
GOING TO GIVE IT 
THE OLD COLLEGE 
TRY. 
CASE IN POINT, 
MICHIGAN STATE 
UNIVERSITY IN 
EAST LANSING. 
>> A LOT OF IT 
IS BASED ON 
REALLY APPLYING 
WHAT WE KNOW 
ABOUT 
CORONAVIRUS. 
>> Reporter: 
MSU'S PRESIDENT 
IS AN EXPERT IN 
INFECTIOUS 
DISEASES. 
THE QUESTION ON 
EVERY PARENTS 
MIND IS HOW WILL 
YOU KEEP 
STUDENTS SAFE ON 
CAMPUS? 
>>  THAT'S 
ABSOLUTELY THE 
RIGHT QUESTION 
TO BE ASKING. 
I THINK IT'S ONE 
THAT WE HAVE 
THOUGHT A 
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
ABOUT AS WE 
PREPARE TO OPEN 
CLASSES ON 
SEPTEMBER 2. 
>> Reporter: THE 
COUNTDOWN IS ON. 
MICHIGAN STATE 
ADMINISTRATORS 
INVITED US ONE 
OF THEIR VIRTUAL 
WAR ROOM 
MEETINGS. 
THEY ARE MAKING 
DECISIONS ON THE 
BEST WAY TO 
BRING STUDENTS 
BACK SAFELY. 
>> WE ARE IN THE 
PROCESS OF 
PROCESSING THE 
LIVE AT HOME 
APPLICATION. 
>> Reporter: THE 
VICE PRESIDENT 
GETTING 
INFORMATION OUT 
TO STUDENTS. 
>> OUR RADIO 
STATION IS DOING 
PUBLIC SERVICE 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
>> 35% WILL BE 
IN PERSON, AND 
15% AS OF NOW 
ARE A HYBRID. 
>> Reporter: 
THERE WOULD 
NORMALLY BE 
15,000 STUDENTS 
LIVING ON 
CAMPUS. 
THIS YEAR, IT 
WILL BE MORE 
LIKE 11,000. 
BUT EVEN WITH 
FEWER STUDENTS, 
OFFICIALS KNOW 
HOW TOUGH IT 
WILL BE TO PULL 
THIS OFF. 
>> WE HAVE THIS 
EVERY DAY. 
>> Reporter: 
COVID TEST WILL 
BE GIVEN. 
>> WE WILL 
EITHER 
QUARANTINE OR 
ISOLATE. 
>> Reporter: 
MOST COURSES 
HERE WILL BE 
ONLINE. 
BUT THE 
UNIVERSITY SAYS 
STUDENTS SHOULD 
HAVE THE 
EXPERIENCE OF 
ONLY BEING ON 
CAMPUS. 
THAT SAID, 
ANYTHING CAN 
HAPPEN. 
>> THE KEYWORD 
FOR ALL OF US IN 
HIGHER EDUCATION 
IS PIVOT. 
WE HAVE TO BE 
READY TO PIVOT. 
WE DON'T KNOW 
ENOUGH ABOUT IT 
ABOUT THIS 
VIRUS. 
WE DON'T KNOW 
ENOUGH ABOUT THE 
POTENTIAL IMPACT.
>> Reporter: IN 
FACT, THE 
UNIVERSITY 
COMMUNITY HAS 
ALREADY SEEN 
WHAT CAN GO 
WRONG. 
IN JUNE, A 
POPULAR EAST 
LANSING BAR, 
HARPERS BREWPUB, 
REOPEN. 
>> EVERYBODY WAS 
DANCING AROUND. 
THERE WAS NO 
SOCIAL DISTANCE. 
>> Reporter: 
TURNS OUT, 
HARPERS BECAME 
GROUND ZERO FOR 
A SUPER SPREADER 
EVENT THAT LED 
TO NEARLY 200 
COVID INFECTIONS.
NOLAN WAS 
HOSPITALIZED, 
BUT IT WAS A 
CLOSE CALL. 
HOW IN THE WORLD 
ARE YOU GOING TO 
CONTROL THIS 
BEHAVIOR WHEN 
YOU AND OTHER 
ADMINISTRATORS 
AT THE CAMPUS 
AND AT THE 
UNIVERSITY ARE 
NOT WATCHING? 
>> AGAIN, THAT 
IS A CHALLENGE.  
I THINK PART OF 
IT IS HAVING 
THAT 
CONVERSATION 
WITH YOUR STUDENT
, HAVING IT WITH 
YOUR SON OR 
DAUGHTER, 
HELPING THEM 
UNDERSTAND 
WHAT'S REQUIRED 
OF THEM AS THEY 
GO TO MICHIGAN 
STATE. 
>> Reporter: IT 
MEANS NO LONG 
GATHERINGS, 
PERIOD. 
WEARING A MASK 
IS MANDATORY. 
>> YOU AS A 
PARENT, IF YOU 
ARE NOT 
COMFORTABLE THAT 
THIS IS A WAY 
YOUR STUDENT CAN 
BE SAY, THAT I 
WOULD ENCOURAGE 
PEOPLE TO STUDY 
REMOTELY. 
>> Reporter: MSU 
STUDENT 
GOVERNMENT 
PRESIDENT SAYS 
SHE IS CONFIDENT 
HER CLASSMATES 
WILL PULL 
TOGETHER TO 
PROTECT ONE 
ANOTHER. 
>> WE NEED TO 
HOLD EACH OTHER 
ACCOUNTABLE. 
STUDENTS HAVE 
PROVEN THAT SO 
MANY TIMES OVER 
AND OVER AGAIN. 
>> Reporter: 
DINING HALL 
SCOTT THUMAN 
TORRES, AND 
CLASSROOMS HAVE 
BEEN REDESIGNED. 
EVERYONE WILL BE 
MONITORED. 
MICHIGAN STATE 
DEVELOPED AN 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEM USING 
WASTEWATER. 
WHEN ALL WAS 
CASES OCCURRED 
AT THE LOCAL BAR 
-- 
>> LOW AND 
BEHOLD, WE FOUND 
A LARGE PEAK OF 
THE VIRUS IN THE 
SEWAGE AT THE 
SAME TIME OF THE 
HARPERS OUTBREAK
. WE DO BELIEVE 
THAT WE'VE GOT 
EVIDENCE, AND WE 
CAN SET UP 
ASSISTANT FOR 
EARLY WARNING. 
>> Reporter: AS 
THE 
ADMINISTRATION 
HAS BEEN FINDING 
OUT, BEING READY 
FOR ANYTHING IS 
THE NAME OF THE 
GAME. 
JUST DAYS AGO, 
MICHIGAN STATE 
ATHLETIC 
DIRECTOR WAS 
GEARING UP FOR 
THE START OF THE 
FOOTBALL SEASON. 
>> WE ARE 
EXCITED FOR THE 
FALL. 
THERE IS A BIT 
OF TREPIDATION. 
BUT CAUTIOUSLY 
OPTIMISTIC. 
>> Reporter: 
THEN ON TUESDAY, 
THE BIG TEN 
DECIDED TO 
POSTPONE ALL 
SPORTS, 
INCLUDING 
FOOTBALL, UNTIL 
AT LEAST BRING. 
IT'S THE TYPE OF 
LAST-MINUTE 
CHANGE THE 
UNIVERSITY KNOWS 
IT WILL HAVE TO 
DEAL WITH ALL 
SEMESTER. 
FOR NOW, THE 
HOPE IS THAT ALL 
THE STUDENTS 
SCHEDULED TO 
COME BACK WILL 
STILL BE HERE 
WHEN THE SNOW 
BEGINS TO FLY. 
BUT -- 
>> AFTER ALL OF 
THIS IS SAID AND 
DONE, IF THERE 
IS AN OUTBREAK, 
WOULD YOU BE 
WILLING TO PULL 
THE PLUG ON ON-
CAMPUS LEARNING? 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
WE FEEL AS IF 
EVERY MODALITY 
IS NOT ADEQUATE, 
THEN YES, 
ABSOLUTELY WE 
WOULD GO TO 
FULLY REMOTE. 
>> THAT WAS 
REHEMA ELLIS 
REPORTING. 
WE WILL BE BACK 
WITH MORE, 
INCLUDING WORDS 
OF WISDOM FROM 
SOME OF THE KIDS 
IN THE MIDDLE OF 
ALL OF THIS. 
WE ARE GOING TO 
HEAR MORE FROM 
OUR PANEL OF 
EXPERTS ON JUST 
WHAT THOSE KIDS 
ARE UP AGAINST 
WHEN WE CONTINUE 
WITH CORONAVIRUS 
AND THE 
CLASSROOM. 
>> I FOUND A 
FATHER TRYING TO 
TEACH HIS SON 
ABOUT PEACE. 
>> WE DON'T HAVE 
TO RETALIATE 
WITH ANGER. 
WE RETALIATE 
WITH LOVE. 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE 
DOWN HERE. 
THERE'S ALWAYS 
ANOTHER WAY. 
SO THAT'S ALL I 
WANT HIM TO SEE. 
>>> WHEN YOU 
NEED BRUTAL 
HONESTY. 
>> THIS ISN'T 
ABOUT DONALD 
TRUMP. 
THIS IS ABOUT 
400 YEARS OF 
RACISM. 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
ANSWERS FIRST 
THING IN THE 
MORNING. 
>> WHAT NEEDS TO 
BE DONE TO MAKE 
BALLOTS READY TO 
GO FOR THE 
PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION IN 
NOVEMBER? 
>> WHEN YOU NEED 
TO GO DEEP 
INSIDE THE 
STORY. 
>> WHAT'S A 
POLICY CHANGE IN 
POLICING YOU 
WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE ENACTED? 
>> HEAR FROM 
SOMEONE WHO'S 
BEEN THERE. 
>> WHO IS 
TELLING THE 
TRUTH AND WHO IS 
LYING EVERY DAY? 
THAT'S THE NEWS 
STORY AMERICANS 
WANT TO HEAR. 
>> YOU NEED YOUR 
MORNING JOE, 
ONLY ON MSNBC. 
>> WE'D LIKE TO 
THINK THAT WE 
LIVE IN SOME 
SORT OF POST-
RACIAL AMERICA. 
WE'RE REMINDED 
TIME AND TIME 
AGAIN THAT WE DO 
NOT. 
>> SO I REACHED 
OUT TO YOU AFTER 
I WATCHED THE 
MAYOR OF ATLANTA 
ACT AS A MOM 
TRYING TO RAISE 
HER SON, AND I 
THINK ABOUT YOU 
AND YOUR KIDS. 
>> I REMEMBER 
HER COMING HOME 
SAYING, WHY 
DON'T I HAVE A 
PONYTAIL LIKE 
THE WHITE GIRLS? 
IT'S OKAY TO 
NOTICE THAT 
YOU'RE 
DIFFERENT. 
YOU JUST HAVE TO 
NOT FEEL LESS 
THAN. 
THAT'S MY THING. 
>> I CHERISH THE 
FACT THAT WE CAN 
HAVE THESE 
DISCUSSIONS. 
I FEEL SAFE 
TALKING ABOUT 
THIS WITH YOU 
GUYS. 
>>> YOU'RE 
WATCHING NBC 
NEWS NOW. 
WE'VE GOT SOME 
BREAKING NEWS. 
>> WE ACTUALLY 
SAW A LARGE 
CONVOY OF THE 
NATIONAL GUARD 
COME THROUGH 
HERE. 
>> IT'S NEWS 
MADE FOR YOUR 
STREAMING WORLD. 
LIVE WEEKDAYS 
STARTING AT 6:00 
A.M. 
EASTERN. 
>>> A VIRUS THAT 
KNOWS NO 
BORDERS. 
>> A REAL 
CATASTROPHE 
HAPPENING HERE 
IN BRAZIL BEFORE 
OUR VERY EYES. 
>> OUR GLOBAL 
FIGHT AGAINST IT 
UNITES US. 
>> HERE IN 
MEXICO CITY, THE 
PEOPLE I SPOKE 
TO SAID IF THEY 
DON'T WORK, 
THEY'RE NOT 
GOING TO BE ABLE 
TO FEED THEIR 
FAMILIES. 
>> OUR NBC NEWS 
AND SKY TEAMS 
ARE ON THE 
GROUND, LEARNING 
FROM WHERE IT'S 
BEEN. 
>> THE SOUTH 
KOREAN 
GOVERNMENT IS 
BRINGING 
STUDENTS BACK 
OVER THE NEXT 
COUPLE OF WEEKS 
IN STAGES. 
>> SO THAT YOU 
CAN BETTER 
UNDERSTAND HOW 
IT WILL IMPACT 
US HERE. 
>> LIFE ACROSS 
ITALY IS BACK TO 
NORMAL. 
IT JUST DOESN'T 
LOOK LIKE THE 
SAME NORMAL AS 
BEFORE. 
>>> THE ONLY 
THING WE HAVE TO 
FEAR IS FEAR 
ITSELF. 
>> THESE ARE THE 
UNITED STATES, A 
UNITED PEOPLE 
WITH A UNITED 
PURPOSE. 
>> THE FUTURE 
DOESN'T BELONG 
TO THE 
FAINTHEARTED. 
IT BELONGS TO 
THE BRAVE. 
>> A GREAT 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
MOVED TO DEFEND 
A GREAT NATION. 
>> ALL OF US CAN 
EXTEND A HAND TO 
THOSE IN NEED.  
>>> WHAT DO YOU 
THINK NEEDS TO 
BE FIXED? 
AND WHAT WOULD 
COUNT AS JUSTICE 
IN THIS CASE? 
DO YOU HAVE 
CLARITY ON WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT 
HAS ACTUALLY 
ORDERED? 
I HAVE TO ASK 
WHETHER THE 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY 
CAN TURN THIS 
AROUND SO THAT 
THIS IS AN 
ENGINE FOR 
PROGRESSIVE 
POLITICAL 
CHANGE. 
>> PEOPLE ARE 
NOT SIX FEET 
APART FROM ONE 
ANOTHER FOR THE 
MOST PART. 
>> ARE YOU 
WORRIED THAT 
THESE TWO CRISES 
MAY DOVETAIL IN 
TERMS OF THE 
RISK OF 
TRANSMISSION AT 
THESE ONGOING 
PROTESTS?  
>>> FOR 
AMERICANS WATCH 
NBC NEWS AND ANY 
OTHER NEWS 
ORGANIZATION IN 
THE WORLD. 
>>> THIS IS THE 
TIME OF YEAR 
WHEN GOING BACK 
TO SCHOOL WEIGHS 
HEAVY ON THE 
MINDS OF MOST 
KIDS. BUT 
CLEARLY, THESE 
ARE NO ORDINARY 
TIMES. 
WE TALKED TO 
SOME OF THE 
STUDENTS ABOUT 
IT AND ASKED 
THEM, WITH HER 
PARENTS 
PERMISSION, WHAT 
LEARNING IN THE 
TIME OF COVID 
HAS BEEN LIKE 
FOR THEM. 
>> IF MY TEACHER 
HAS TO HAVE A 
KRONOS VIRUS 
GREAT, I WOULD 
SAY B+. 
>> I WOULD GIVE 
THEM AN F. 
>> F WITH 1 
MILLION MINUSES. 
>> I THOUGHT IT 
WAS GOING TO BE 
FUN. 
>> GOING VIRTUAL 
WITH OUR CLASS 
AND DO HER 
HOMEWORK. 
>> AFTER I CAME 
TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL
. 
>> THE ONE THING 
I MISSED MOST IS 
BEING ABLE TO 
SEE MY TEACHERS 
AND TALK TO THEM 
ONE-ON-ONE. 
>> I DON'T 
REALLY HAVE A 
GOOD COMPUTER. 
>> IT WAS VERY 
WEIRD. 
>> I LAY ON THE 
BED A LOT. 
I GET DISTRACTED 
WAY, LIKE EMMA I 
GET DISTRACTED 
EASILY. 
>> I THINK 
SOMETIMES SEEN 
PEOPLE ON ZOOM, 
IT DOESN'T FEEL 
LIKE THEY ARE 
REAL PEOPLE. 
>> WHEN YOU ASK 
A QUESTION, 
SOMETIMES THEY 
DON'T HEAR YOU. 
THEY CAN SEE 
RAISE YOUR HAND. 
>> IF YOU WANT 
TO LEARN 
ANYTHING FROM 
YOUR MATH CLASS, 
AND I HAVE TO 
LEARN A LOT OF 
IT ON MY OWN. 
>> I WOULD LIKE 
TO SEE THAT THEY 
COME UP WITH A 
VACCINE SO IT 
WILL JUST BE OVER
, LIKE A BAD 
YEAR. 
>> BUILDING 
RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH PEOPLE 
DOING SO MANY 
THINGS. AND THEN 
BEING TORN DOWN. 
>> IT JUST GOES 
TO SHOW THAT 
ANYTHING COULD 
CHANGE OUR LIVES 
ENTIRELY FROM 
ONE LITTLE EVENT 
THAT HAPPENS. 
>> LET'S TURN 
ONCE AGAIN TO 
OUR PANEL. 
BEFORE WE GET TO 
THOSE PREPARED 
QUESTIONS, DR. 
VARMA, IF I CAN 
ASK YOU, WE 
THINK OF PARENTS 
AS THE ONES , 
PARENTS AND 
ADULTS AND THE 
HEALTH AND 
SAFETY DECISIONS 
REGARDING KITS. 
HOW IMPORTANT IS 
IT TO INCLUDE 
CHILDREN AND 
YOUNG PEOPLE IN 
THESE 
CONVERSATIONS? 
>> THANK YOU SO 
MUCH FOR ASKING 
THAT BECAUSE I 
HAVE TWO YOUNG 
ONES AT HOME. 
I REALLY AM 
TRYING TO 
INCLUDE THEM. AS 
A PARENT, SO 
MUCH WE ARE USED 
TO BEING IN THE 
DRIVER SEAT. 
IT'S INTERESTING 
THAT YOU MIGHT 
HAVE A 
CONVERSATION 
WITH A PARTNER 
OR A FRIEND, AND 
YOUR KIDS OVER 
HERE YOU, AND 
THEY ARE LIKE 
HEY, I'M OVER 
HERE. 
WHAT ABOUT ME? 
DO I GET A SAY 
IN THE MATTER? 
I THINK IT'S 
REALLY IMPORTANT 
TO INCORPORATE 
WHERE THEY ARE 
COMING FROM AND 
HAVE AGE-
APPROPRIATE 
CONVERSATIONS 
BECAUSE IF YOU 
ARE TALKING 
ABOUT SOMEBODY 
WHO IS ABOVE THE 
AGE OF 6 OR 7, 
THEY KNOW WHAT 
IS GOING ON. 
THEY ARE 
WATCHING 
TELEVISION AND 
LISTENING TO YOUR
CONVERSATIONS. 
THEY OVER HERE 
AND HAVE AN 
OPINION. 
THEY START TO 
REGRESS IF THEY 
HAVE ACHIEVED 
CERTAIN 
MILESTONES. 
FOR EXAMPLE, IF 
THEY ARE TOILET 
TRAINED, THEY 
MIGHT START 
BEDWETTING. 
THEY MIGHT BE 
MORE CLINGY OR 
ANCIENT. 
IT IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO SAY 
TO ME ABOUT 
THIS. 
WHAT ARE YOU 
WORRIED ABOUT? 
ARE YOU WORRIED 
ABOUT ME GETTING 
SICK? 
YOU GETTING SICK?
YOUR TEACHERS 
GETTING SICK? 
YOUR GRANDPA 
GETTING SICK? I 
LOVE THAT 
QUESTION AND 
THANK YOU FOR 
ASKING. 
WE DON'T INVOLVE 
OUR KIDS ENOUGH. 
WE ABSOLUTELY 
NEED TO. 
WE HAVE TO DEAL 
WITH THE PANDEMIC
AND MAKING HARD 
DECISIONS. 
INCLUDE THEM. 
YOU MIGHT BE 
REASSURED BY IT. 
>> WE ARE GOING 
TO INCLUDE THEM 
RIGHT NOW. 
WE HAVE SOME OF 
THE QUESTIONS. 
WE WILL START 
WITH DR. TORRES. 
THIS COMES FROM 
A 7-YEAR-OLD, 
LEILA, WHO ASKS 
WHY DO I HAVE TO 
WEAR A MASK IF 
WE ARE SIX FEET 
APART? 
>> I THINK A LOT 
OF US HAVE THAT 
EXACT QUESTION. 
WHEN DO WE HAVE 
TO WEAR A MASK? 
AND WHEN DO I 
NEED TO PUT IT 
ON? 
IF YOU CAN 
GUARANTEE THAT 
SIX-FOOT 
DISTANCE, YOU 
MIGHT NOT NEED A 
MASK. 
BUT IT IS HARD 
TO GUARANTEE. 
WE KNOW THE 
THING ACTUALLY 
WORKS TO HELP 
PROTECT US IN 
OTHER PEOPLE 
AROUND US ARE  
WsTHE THREE. IF 
YOU ARE IN 
PUBLIC, YOU 
MIGHT NOT BE 
ABLE TO KEEP 
THAT SIX-FOOT 
DISTANCE. 
IF YOU DO WEAR A 
MASK, PEOPLE ARE 
MORE LIKELY TO 
STAY SIX FEET 
AWAY FROM YOU 
BECAUSE THEY SEE 
THE MASK ON. 
THEY KNOW YOU 
WANT TO BE SAFE. 
LESTER? 
>> DR. VARMA, 
HARRY SAYS MY 
COLLEGE WORDY  
TO OPEN IN 
SEPTEMBER AND 
BRING IN 34 DOORS
TO LIVE IN A 
CONGRESS HOUSING 
FACILITY FOR 
ROOM AND BOARD. 
HOW CAN THEY 
SOCIALLY 
DISTANCE? 
WHAT HAPPENS IF 
ONE PERSON TESTS 
POSITIVE? 
WHAT ALL THE 
GIRLS HAVE TO BE 
QUARANTINED FOR 
14 DAYS? 
WHAT ARE YOUR 
THOUGHTS? 
>> LESTER, WHILE 
I RESPECT THE 
ROLE OF 
FRATERNITIES AND 
SORORITIES FOR 
BUILDING 
COMMUNITY, I DO 
THINK THAT 34 IS 
A LARGE NUMBER 
OF PEOPLE TO PUT 
IN ONE HOUSE. 
I KNOW THAT A 
LOT OF COLLEGES 
DON'T EVEN WANT 
TO HAVE CLASSES 
WHICH MIGHT ONLY 
BE ONE OR TWO 
HOURS MORE THAN 
30 PEOPLE. 
A LOT OF PLACES 
ARE LIMITING THE 
NUMBER OF 
STUDENTS PER 
HOUSE. 
THEY ARE ALSO 
SAYING THAT RUTH 
SHOULD BE 
DEDICATED FOR 
QUARANTINE 
ROOMS, WHETHER 
IT BE IN THE 
HOUSE OR OFF-
CAMPUS. 
IF YOU WANT TO 
FACILITATE 
COMMUNITY, LET'S 
DO AS MUCH OF 
THAT COMMUNITY 
ONLINE REMOTELY 
AS POSSIBLE. 
I DO GET THAT 
THERE IS A BIG 
EPIDEMIC AND WE 
WANT TO BE 
CAREFUL. 
>> DR. REDLENER, 
SHOULD WE START 
WEARING GLASSES 
TO PROTECT THEIR 
EYES FROM THE 
VIRUS? 
MY SECOND 
QUESTION IS, 
WHICH IS BETTER, 
GOGGLES ARE 
GLASSES? 
>> GOOD QUESTION.
THEORETICALLY, 
YOU CAN CATCH 
THE VIRUS 
THROUGH YOUR EYES
, THE MUCOUS 
MEMBRANES IN 
YOUR EYES. 
WEARING GLASSES 
WOULD PROBABLY 
BE OKAY. 
GOGGLES WOULD BE 
MOST PROTECTIVE. 
BUT REALLY, WE 
THINK THOSE 
TYPES OF DEVICES 
SHOULD BE 
RESERVED FOR 
PEOPLE IN VERY 
CLOSE CONTACT 
WITH POTENTIAL 
PATIENTS. 
FOR EXAMPLE, 
HEALTHCARE 
WORKERS, PEOPLE 
WORKING, BEAUTY 
SALONS AND 
BARBERSHOPS, A 
LOT OF DIRECT 
CONTACT. 
ALSO PEOPLE 
WORKING ON 
AIRPLANES, 
FLIGHT CREWS AND 
SO ON, WHO ARE 
WITH PEOPLE ALL 
DAY LONG 
ENCLOSED SPACES. 
THEY MIGHT BE 
WEARING EYE 
PROTECTION. 
GOGGLES ARE 
BETTER THAN 
GLASSES. 
GLASSES BETTER 
THAN NOTHING. 
I DO THINK THE 
GENERAL PUBLIC, 
WE ARE NOT READY 
TO RECOMMEND 
THAT THE GENERAL 
PUBLIC START 
WEARING GOGGLES 
AT THIS POINT. 
LESTER? 
>> WE ARE OUT OF 
TIME. 
WE WANT TO THINK 
OUR PANEL AND 
ALL OF THOSE WHO 
PARTICIPATED IN 
HELPING US 
UNDERSTAND AND 
COPE WITH ONE OF 
THE BIGGEST 
CHALLENGES THIS 
COUNTRY HAS EVER 
FACED. 
CLOSING 
AMERICA'S SCHOOLS
AS IS PANDEMIC 
TOOK HOLD SOME 
FIVE MONTHS AGO 
WITH HARD. 
REOPENING THEM 
HAS PROVEN TO BE 
MUCH HARDER. 
AS WE HAVE SEEN 
TONIGHT, IT'S 
GOING TO TAKE 
ALL OF US 
WORKING TOGETHER 
TO GET IT RIGHT. 
FROM BATTERY 
PARK CITY IN NEW 
YORK, I'M LESTER 
HOLT. 
FROM ALL OF US 
AT NBC NEWS, 
THANK YOU FOR 
JOINING US 
TONIGHT. 
GOOD NIGHT. 
