A recent survey conducted by the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Centre (TPAK) found that most Thai children spend up to 14 hours sitting in front of a screen due to online classes.

In late October, Courtney Allen got the call she had been waiting for: A school district asked if she could come back as a substitute teacher. Allen desperately needed the money as she was only getting $125 a week from unemployment benefits. But she had to turn down the job.