YUMA, AZ — ABC15 spoke exclusively with President Trump during his recent visit to Yuma, discussing issues like the border wall, coronavirus, schools, the economy, mail-in ballots and more.
ABC15 Mornings' Kaley O'Kelley asked the president about education -- a topic that has gotten very divisive in Arizona and across the country.
"I think that when you look at schools, it’s a very unique situation. Young children, frankly the younger they are, they have a strong immune system and they just don't have the problems," President Trump said. "If you look at numbers, just statistically, it's... you take 1%, and then it's a tiny fraction of 1%. These are the ones that have big problems. It's very, very little."
President Trump told O'Kelley that, despite the fear from recent reports that the number of pediatric coronavirus cases is increasing, "...we have to open our schools."
The president went on to say, "When you shut down, you have other problems -- depression, alcohol, drugs, family squabbles, to put it nicely..."
ABC15's Political Insider Team dug deeper into the coronavirus numbers among children and claims that there are other issues arising as kids and families are kept at home.
President Trump was giving a national number when discussing coronavirus among children. Here in Arizona, it's difficult to get COVID-19 data regarding minors. Only Yavapai County gives out that information. So far, we've learned that:
- Children under 13 years old make up 4% of all of Yavapai County's COVID cases
- Teenagers (13-17) make up 8% of the county's COVID cases, but that number may be skewed due to the number of kids infected at the Mingus Mountain Academy earlier this year.
- The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that 12 people between infancy and 19 years old have died from COVID-19 in Arizona. Out of 4,688 people that have died statewide, that's less than 0.3% (Editor's note: A previous version of this story and on-air broadcast incorrectly listed the percentage as 0.002%).
Dr. Anthony Fauci shared with World News Tonight on Wednesday that new data shows kids between 10 and 19 years old who contract COVID can spread it the same as adults.
In terms of problems at home, Arizona has seen an increase in domestic violence reports since the beginning of the pandemic.
For one example, Phoenix Police Department has reported astaggering jump in domestic violence-related homicides this year, compared to last year.
The Scripps National content team also spoke with an expert early on in the pandemic who saidsocial distancing and staying home can lead to more problems at home that go unreported. Those experiencing problems may not be able to get help.
FULL INTERVIEW: ABC15's exclusive interview with President Donald Trump
