Will the U.S. Government impose mandatory public school closures due to the A/H1N1 pandemic?
Background: 
During a news conference on July 20th, Aphaluck Bhatiasevi of the World Health Organization (WHO) said that school closures were one of the measures that could and should be considered by countries looking to mitigate the spread of the deadly A/H1N1 influenza virus. Different countries will be facing the pandemic at different levels at different times, he said, so it was up to countries to consider what mitigation measures would suit them best.
With schools in the United States set to begin the 2009/2010 school year over the next six or seven weeks, and with the onset of cooler fall and winter weather--historically prime time for spreading the flu virus--this market wants to know whether the United States government will unilaterally dictate that some or all states close some or all public schools in a particular state as a way of preventing further spread of H1N1.
NOTE I: Any such closure must be explicitly mandated by the federal government, and must be for the express purpose of mitigating A/H1N1. Public schools closing voluntarily or only at the urging of any state or local government will not count toward settlement; any mainstream news source must state that the school is closing because the United States government said it had to.
NOTE II: Merely sending or keeping some or all of a school's students home will not count; any article must state that the entire school must be closed, and the school's entire slate of classes must be canceled/postponed.
NOTE III: Any such closure need not take place by the suspend date (Christmas Eve), so long as it's announced by the media by that time.
Hey, kids! How about less time at school and more time at home?
During a news conference on July 20th, Aphaluck Bhatiasevi of the World Health Organization (WHO) said that school closures were one of the measures that could and should be considered by countries looking to mitigate the spread of the deadly A/H1N1 influenza virus. Different countries will be facing the pandemic at different levels at different times, he said, so it was up to countries to consider what mitigation measures would suit them best.
With schools in the United States set to begin the 2009/2010 school year over the next six or seven weeks, and with the onset of cooler fall and winter weather--historically prime time for spreading the flu virus--this market wants to know whether the United States government will unilaterally dictate that some or all states close some or all public schools in a particular state as a way of preventing further spread of H1N1.
NOTE I: Any such closure must be explicitly mandated by the federal government, and must be for the express purpose of mitigating A/H1N1. Public schools closing voluntarily or only at the urging of any state or local government will not count toward settlement; any mainstream news source must state that the school is closing because the United States government said it had to.
NOTE II: Merely sending or keeping some or all of a school's students home will not count; any article must state that the entire school must be closed, and the school's entire slate of classes must be canceled/postponed.
NOTE III: Any such closure need not take place by the suspend date (Christmas Eve), so long as it's announced by the media by that time.
Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source.
Forecast history %
| Yes |
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| No |
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Question suspends in 4 weeks
- Activity: H$36,752 |
- Predictions: 30 |
Comments: 2
Suspend date: Thu 24th Dec 11:59pm PST (4 weeks to go)
Initial likelihoods: Yes: 25%
Action history:
Changed Description Tue 21st Jul 12:49pm PST by 
sqlman![[Admin]](http://www.hubdub.com/images/icon_admin.gif "This user is an admin")
: show details
sqlman: show details ... center; font-size: 120%;"><i>LongHey, kids! How vacationabout comingless up, kidsschool and more time at home?</i></div></div><br/> <br ... measures would suit them best. <.<br/> <br/> With schools in ... preventing further spread of H1N1. <.<br/> <br/> <b>NOTE I:</ ... government said it had to. <.<br/> <br/> <b>NOTE II:</ ... classes must be canceled/postponed. <.<br/> <br/> <b>NOTE III:</
Changed Description Tue 21st Jul 12:50pm PST by sqlman: show details
sqlman: show details ... 255, 255, 255); color: rgb(255, 0, 0, 255); font-weight: 900; text-align ... >Hey, kids! How about less time at school and more time at
Settlement requested Sat 19th Sep 5:42am PST by 
Erik
: Sebelius: Federal Government Won’t Make Decisions on Vaccination, School Closures
Friday, September 18, 2009
By Christopher Neefus
(CNSNews.com) - The Health and Human Services Department will bypass states and send doses of H1N1 vaccine directly to traditional and “non-traditional” vaccination sites, perhaps including schools, but decisions on vaccinations and school closures are still up to parents and local officials.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday that school closure is “always a local decision.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=54198
Erik: Sebelius: Federal Government Won’t Make Decisions on Vaccination, School Closures
Friday, September 18, 2009
By Christopher Neefus
(CNSNews.com) - The Health and Human Services Department will bypass states and send doses of H1N1 vaccine directly to traditional and “non-traditional” vaccination sites, perhaps including schools, but decisions on vaccinations and school closures are still up to parents and local officials.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday that school closure is “always a local decision.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=54198
Suspend date: Thu 24th Dec 11:59pm PST (4 weeks to go) details 
Get widget!Predictions (30)
cluster0ne
predicted Yes (H$20 at 5%)
tahmkat3d
predicted Yes (H$100 at 6%)
bookie
predicted Yes (H$20 at 7%)
stepher
predicted No (H$50 at 86%)
carpet
predicted No (H$100 at 86%)Comments (2)
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Friday, September 18, 2009
By Christopher Neefus
(CNSNews.com) - The Health and Human Services Department will bypass states and send doses of H1N1 vaccine directly to traditional and “non-traditional” vaccination sites, perhaps including schools, but decisions on vaccinations and school closures are still up to parents and local officials.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday that school closure is “always a local decision.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=54198
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