Biden has vowed to keep businesses and schools open but some experts wonder if that’s possible given nature of Covid variant.

Joe Biden has vowed to keep businesses and schools open, but some experts wonder if that’s possible given the nature of Omicron and the lack of adequate measures to combat it.

“The economy cannot stay open and schools cannot stay open when so many people are getting sick,” said Margaret Thornton, an educational researcher at Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

“We must take action to slow the spread in order to keep schools running, to keep businesses running,” she said – but much of that action has been slow to happen.

Omicron comes on the heels of a devastating Delta wave in the fall and existing staff and supply shortages, with little opportunity to recover.

Childcare facilities are also facing rising cases and staff shortages.

It’s complete chaos,” Thornton said.

Leaders have “gotten the reasoning backwards” on keeping schools open, she said.

“This administration has said they prioritize schools because of the economy, in order to get parents back to work.

The measures just need to be taken, Thornton said.

Making sure that all students have high-quality masks is also essential, Thornton said.

“Keeping schools open and the economy running is very important and a real challenge with so much of society getting sick over the next few weeks,” Bright said.