Schools superintendent talks about the ‘big tragedy’ happening across America

But Dr. Anthony Fauci said there shouldn’t be a big uptick “if we do it right.”

“We’ve gotta get the school system masked in addition to surrounding the children with vaccinated people,” the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. “That’s the solution.”

“Even though in my community, 98% of individuals have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, there is still a lag specific to individuals that represent ethnic minorities in Miami-Dade.”

The 13 school employees who died were African Americans and were unvaccinated, according to their families, Carvalho said.

Since vaccine mandates are illegal in Florida, the best thing Carvalho can do is offer incentives to teachers to get fully vaccinated, including a $275 stipend to any employee who shows proof of vaccination, he said.

Schools, particularly in the South, started their new year in August and many districts, notably those without mask measures in place, saw an explosion of cases.

Doctors and experts warn it could happen again when students in much of the rest of the country return to school after the Labor Day weekend unless there is strong action to keep the virus in check.

Schools opening after Labor Day could see fresh burst of coronavirus cases -- if mitigation measures aren't followed

Fauci stressed masks in schools and vaccination for those eligible are crucial.

While officials believe the federal government is limited on broadly mandating vaccines, President Joe Biden is expected to deliver a major address this week on the next phase of the pandemic, which will include components related to schools, private companies and requirements for federal employees, two sources familiar with the speech told CNN.

Ahead of the speech, poll data from Gallup on Tuesday showed more Americans now disagree than agree that Biden and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have communicated a clear plan of action in response to Covid-19.

The speech also comes as the impact of the pandemic on schools becomes clearer.

Children now represent 26.8% of the weekly Covid-19 cases, according to new data released Tuesday. Over two weeks, from August 19 to September 2, there was a 10% increase in the cumulated number of Covid-19 cases in children since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Students arrive at a high school during the first day of classes in Novi, Michigan, on Tuesday.

Reinforcements going to hospitals

The lagging vaccination rates and climbing case numbers are keeping the pressure on the health care systems in many states.

In Kentucky, hospitals are facing critical staffing shortages and getting pushed to the brink for ICU beds, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday, forcing the closure of some surgery rooms to create ICU centers and more beds to address the influx of Covid-19 patients.

'Surprised and disappointed.' Doctors in Covid-19 hotspots last year are dealing with new record hospitalizations

The state has stepped in to help by providing Covid-19 testing via third-party vendors that set up outside of hospitals, freeing up hospital emergency room staff and clinicians to prioritize other healthcare needs for the community, Beshear said.

The governor said he also requested FEMA strike teams and has had a nurse strike team deployed up at St. Claire Regional Medical Center, which has been overwhelmed in treating the influx of Covid-19 patients.

Less than half of Kentucky’s population is fully vaccinated against the virus, according to CDC data….