West DFW News

COVID-19 shutdown restrictions are preventing inner-city children from accessing daily meals, according to a Brock, Texas board-certified family physician

“Some of them get their meals at school, not home, and they feel safe at school,” said Dr. Katarina Lindley, a primary care physician with a private practice in Brock Texas called Eagle Medical Center. “Keeping them away from school for long isn’t doing anyone a favor and right now we're going through another huge increase of cases in Texas.”

A total of 200,557 coronavirus cases and 2,655 deaths were reported statewide as of July 7, 2020, according to the Texas Department of Health.

“The good news is the mortality rate has not risen and the other good news is that it's affecting younger people who are handling it well, which is hopefully creating immunity for all of us,”  Dr. Lindley told West DFW News.

She is among the physicians, scientists, public health officials, economists and social scientists nationwide who have joined Restore American Communities Safely to support reopening the economy, including the workplace and schools.

“I believe in the message so I decided to become a part of it,” said Dr. Lindley. “We need to find a way to coexist with COVID. We need to stop fearing COVID, to respect the disease and learn to live with it. It's here to stay. Even if we get a vaccine, it will never go away but instead will probably mutate. So, we have to adapt to it and try to live a semi-normal life."

In addition to being a wife and the mother of five children, Dr. Lindley also sits on the school board after being elected in 2018. 

“Being a physician and being on the school board gives me a different perspective,” she said. “Every member of the school board would like to get kids back to school because we understand the need for them to socialize but, at the same time, their safety is a priority so we'll try to make the best decision and make sure it's done correctly. That's where I help a little because I can give them my opinions as a physician.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently advocated for prioritizing in-person learning in a statement online:

“Schools are critical to addressing racial and social inequity....Evidence from spring 2020 school closures points to negative impacts on learning. Children and adolescents also have been placed at higher risk of morbidity and mortality from physical or sexual abuse, substance use, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school."

Further, the AAP issued guidance for school re-entry called COVID-19 Planning Considerations.

“Our goal is to get kids back into the school building but we will continue giving remote schooling as an option for parents who are afraid to send their kids to school because I'm sure there will be parents like that in every school district,” she said.