WOOHOO SB 739 has passed the house- it is on its way to the Governor-

[Anonymous]

Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

[Anonymous]

My kids' liberal private school was 40% opt-out on day 1, now it's over 60% (in less than 1 month). For teachers, the opt-out rate is 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids' liberal private school was 40% opt-out on day 1, now it's over 60% (in less than 1 month). For teachers, the opt-out rate is 100%.

Name the school or it didn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

That... doesn't make sense. You're in favor of masking unless someone else doesn't have to, in which case you don't believe in masking? Sounds like you aren't actually that into masking after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

That... doesn't make sense. You're in favor of masking unless someone else doesn't have to, in which case you don't believe in masking? Sounds like you aren't actually that into masking after all.

Agree. If you believe masks provide significant benefit, wouldn't those that are masked have the special privilege?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In my experience the parents of kids who have legitimate issues with masks are highly favorable of simply mask optional for everyone, which is also what parents of kids who are simply mask haters want. Nobody is asking for a return to 2019 where masks are illegal to wear in Virginia and schools also prohibit them.

I suspect that is the case because there isn't a clear way to define who has legitimate issues with masks and parents fear their kid will be left out. A child development or medical professional could probably come up with one. I just think parents of kids with legitimate issues with masks and parents of at risk kids under 5 have a lot in common. We have kids with "extra" needs and its our job to protect them. We're not trying to hurt other kids. I think we gravitate to the all or nothing extremes because there are so many people in the middle who are acting selfishly.

Data shows that the number of truly at-risk kids under age 5 is incredibly low, but somehow everyone on the internet has one. Weird.

Similarly, you can't swing a dead cat around DCUM without hitting at least three "immunocompromised" people.

x1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.

Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !

You know that kid or someone in their household could’ve medically fragile and therefore have strong reason for needing the mask, especially as your kid goes without, right?

This article nails it so well: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/weve-never-protected-the-vulnerable/619981/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR15DA6nTNIthIUjDAArj_7CuRgD6fdeg7PkIcptLEkjgr8EuoX6uTZr6Ow

From the article:

Now, as more and more people get vaccinated, much of the country is returning to normal. Some people point to decreased hospitalization and mortality rates among the immunized, or argue that COVID-19 is here to stay but manageable and that restrictions are unnecessary. Some further argue that most who aren’t vaccinated have chosen that path, and so if risk remains, it’s on them.

Such thinking ignores a third, not-insignificant group: those who would like to be immune but aren’t. Some people are still at risk because they can’t yet be vaccinated or because vaccines don’t work for them. They hope that their fellow Americans will take care of them. They hope that the rest of us will agree to sensible precautions or protections to keep them safe until they, too, can be immunized, or until the danger from exposure eventually subsides.

Much of the public is refusing. That’s not new, though. In America, it’s always been like this.

…

Part of my job, both as a writer and as a chief health officer, is to explain how much less-risky most activities are now compared with last year. Many of the people I talk with, though, have others in their life who aren’t yet safe, and they are horrified that we can’t create exceptions or come up with policies to protect their vulnerable loved ones. I share their frustration, but I’m puzzled by their surprise. America has never cared enough. People just didn’t notice before.

At some point - something has to give and we have to give those who want it - school with no masks. Those who don’t want that are going to have to do something like apply for Virtual VA for school next year.

Options that aren't masks for mitigation:

1) easy access to preventatives and treatment
2) improved ventilation

Honestly, if you're scared now send a Corsi-Rosenthal box to class with your kid after the emergency order goes into law.

When did treatment become easily availalbe? I missed that. Please share more info.

I agree improved ventilation would be wonderful. It really frustrates me school boards haven't done more of this, but their failure is NOT a reason to take off masks.

Treatment isn't easily available, though it's getting there. I think one of Youngkin's pushes right now (alongside his vaccine push) should be a website to go and find evushield (preventative monoclonal antibody) if you need it and some good way to get an antiviral into the hands of providers for patients who need it. I know providers can order it already, but make it stupid easy.

Right now some software engineer has a website where people who need it can look up where evushield is available: https://rrelyea.github.io/evusheld/?state=VA

Fairfax spent as much ESSER II money on ventilation as on school

Availability is a huge problem. It took six weeks for an Evusheld dose to become available through my hospital. For those of us who did not make antibodies to (three) vaccine doses, this latest surge has been plenty stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

That... doesn't make sense. You're in favor of masking unless someone else doesn't have to, in which case you don't believe in masking? Sounds like you aren't actually that into masking after all.

Agree. If you believe masks provide significant benefit, wouldn't those that are masked have the special privilege?

My mask protects you, your mask protects me. Surely you’ve heard that. It’s a collective action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I don't plan on opting out my kids, but I plan on telling them that they can take it off if they want to. If I get a call from the school, I'll tell them my children are opting out. Nothing in the text of the bill requires a specific form or even a written election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

That... doesn't make sense. You're in favor of masking unless someone else doesn't have to, in which case you don't believe in masking? Sounds like you aren't actually that into masking after all.

Agree. If you believe masks provide significant benefit, wouldn't those that are masked have the special privilege?

My mask protects you, your mask protects me. Surely you’ve heard that. It’s a collective action.

My childrens' vacations protect them, my vaccinations and boosters protect me. The vast majority of people can be vaccinated and should be. If they aren't then there is an easy way for them to protect themselves. And before anyone chimes in about 5 year old kindergartners, for them covid isn't flu- it's even less lethal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In my experience the parents of kids who have legitimate issues with masks are highly favorable of simply mask optional for everyone, which is also what parents of kids who are simply mask haters want. Nobody is asking for a return to 2019 where masks are illegal to wear in Virginia and schools also prohibit them.

I suspect that is the case because there isn't a clear way to define who has legitimate issues with masks and parents fear their kid will be left out. A child development or medical professional could probably come up with one. I just think parents of kids with legitimate issues with masks and parents of at risk kids under 5 have a lot in common. We have kids with "extra" needs and its our job to protect them. We're not trying to hurt other kids. I think we gravitate to the all or nothing extremes because there are so many people in the middle who are acting selfishly.

Data shows that the number of truly at-risk kids under age 5 is incredibly low, but somehow everyone on the internet has one. Weird.

Please share the data on this.

Obvioulsy you have a skewed sample on the internet because those who care about this issue are the ones posting about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, less than 3% of Fall Church PS parents have opted out of masking, as they now are able to. Anti-maskers thinking they are in the majority are in actuality in some crazy echo chamber.

I mean, it's been a day. Give it time.

Also, why is everyone so scared of a small percentage of the school population being unmasked?

Exactly. If so few people choose to unmask then doesn’t that prove it should be mask optional? That allows the families whose kids are not doing well with masking to opt out and barely moves the needle. Of course, the reality is that most parents are afraid of being socially ostracized for wanting masks off their kids, but everyone can see which way the wind is blowing and it will soon be socially acceptable to go mask free. At that point the mask always crowd will have FOMO.

Well I support Universal masking but I'm not having my kid mask if others in their classes are not showing them the same courtesy. I'm happy to participate in a group mitigation effort but not planning to give a special priviledge to a whiny subset of people that only cares about themselves.

That... doesn't make sense. You're in favor of masking unless someone else doesn't have to, in which case you don't believe in masking? Sounds like you aren't actually that into masking after all.

Agree. If you believe masks provide significant benefit, wouldn't those that are masked have the special privilege?

My mask protects you, your mask protects me. Surely you’ve heard that. It’s a collective action.

Interesting. I would have though you wearing your mask would also afford you some protection, and that you could determine if such protection is significant / warranted based on your age and comorbidities. But in any event, happy to hear you'll be unmasking your children.