DHHS is a big part of the problem

[Anonymous]

As a parent of children in both MCPS and daycare, there have been similar patterns on the part of public officials of proposing non-evidence-based and confusing policies and then retracting them. Remember the policy at the start of the school year that the whole class had to quarantine if any student had a symptom until the symptomatic student produced a negative test? That was a departing gift from Dr. Gayles. Then the color coded system for pivoting schools to virtual? Then the different, more qualitative metrics? Those were under Dr. Stoddard's watch.

A similar pattern is playing out with childcare guidelines. The state released guidelines and DHHS released a memo saying their were adopting the guidelines. Then they retracted the memo and released a new memo littered with contradictions and seemingly stricter guidelines that has confused daycares and parents.

I know we are dealing with a difficult and changing situation, but there is no excuse for this level of incompetence. What could be behind these patterns? The commonality both situations is DHHS. And who appoints the health officers? The county executive. Is this the best we can do in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

I agree.

This should have been clear when Gayles forced OUTDOOR public playgrounds to close down early on. We knew this was an aerosol transmission virus. No issues with surface transmission.

And even now, we are limiting spectators at OUTDOOR games. Despite the fact that nobody is catching Covid at an outdoor softball game.

We need public health officials who are willing to follow the science.

IMO, this starts at the federal level. And Fauci has dropped the ball hard in this regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree.

This should have been clear when Gayles forced OUTDOOR public playgrounds to close down early on. We knew this was an aerosol transmission virus. No issues with surface transmission.

And even now, we are limiting spectators at OUTDOOR games. Despite the fact that nobody is catching Covid at an outdoor softball game.

We need public health officials who are willing to follow the science.

IMO, this starts at the federal level. And Fauci has dropped the ball hard in this regard.

While I 100% agree with you....who is playing outdoor softball right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree.

This should have been clear when Gayles forced OUTDOOR public playgrounds to close down early on. We knew this was an aerosol transmission virus. No issues with surface transmission.

And even now, we are limiting spectators at OUTDOOR games. Despite the fact that nobody is catching Covid at an outdoor softball game.

We need public health officials who are willing to follow the science.

IMO, this starts at the federal level. And Fauci has dropped the ball hard in this regard.

While I 100% agree with you....who is playing outdoor softball right now?

Fair enough, lol. Was thinking back to last year when the players were forced to mask up to play softball. As if a kid was going to catch Covid all the way out in right field.

[Anonymous]

DHHS needs to come out with some solid guidelines based on science. Guidelines for schools, regarding masks and quarantines.

No masks required outdoors, at recess, for any grade level.

Consistent quarantine policies, regardless of vaccination status.

Maybe it would help if we had some guidance from the state/federal level. As in, this is what to do when numbers are high and this is what to do when numbers are lower.