APS Outdoor Lunch Needs to Be Optional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's winter time, vaccines are widely available for kids, and families having been dining indoors at restaurants since June 2020, but our kids are forced to eat outside at APS like prisoners. It's really beyond absurd.

My family dines in at family restaurants throughout Arlington, and we often see other APS families (and say hi). The vast majority of families are doing indoor playdates and birthday parties. Why is the burden being put on the least at risk members of this society (kids)? This charade has to stop.

And before you say "that's why we have cases" - COVID is never going away!! Look at Portugal, with 90%+ of people vaccinated. Most of Florida does none of these things and has the least amount of cases in the country right now. There are seasonal surges and these types of nonpharmaceutical interventions don't stop the spread of a highly transmissible virus, as is obvious. And what is the point of doing these procedures?

These Arlington COVID extremists are essentially saying our kids have to do these mitigation methods the rest of our lives, but they can stop when they become adults. There's 0 logic to this disparate (mis-) treatment of children. And newsflash - everyone will get be exposed to COVID repeatedly in their lifetime. Everyone.

This policy is simply appealing only to the most COVID extreme in Arlington. As Anthony Fauci is making clear, COVID will not be eradicated. If you're that concerned about your child getting a case of COVID (which almost everyone will in their lifetime) that you only "feel" safe if they're eating in "light rain" or with frozen hands outdoors, then you're free to have your child eat outside. But the rest of our children need to be allowed to continue doing exactly what the law allows in every other part of society and most are already doing every weekend with friends and family - eating indoors.

There are no children under 12 who are fully vaccinated. None. Zero. So, you need to be patient.

Schools telling children where to eat has happened since the beginning of schools. If you consider being told where to do things is treating children "like prisoners" then you should probably homeschool.

Your argument about children having to do things the rest of their lives, and also stopping when they are adults makes zero sense.

The reason we have these restrictions is because selfish people like you have been dining indoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am begging, BEGGING, parents and community members to understand how very, very low risk kids are of severe illness from COVID. https://brownstone.org/articles/well-structured-german-study-shows-no-deaths-among-healthy-german-kids-ages-5-to-11/

I am begging, BEGGING, idiots like you to understand that children don't live alone. That when they are quarantined or bring illness home it impacts the health of adults, which impacts the lives of children. In addition, it has had a devastating impact on our economy.

[Anonymous]

So I was VERY supportive of outdoor lunch to start the year. Even in the heat, and yes now in the cold. But I do think the game changer here is the available kid's vaccine. I think in January, the default should go back to indoor lunch, with outdoor lunch when it's dry and over 45 degrees.

My kid is in 2nd grade and personally LOVES eating lunch outside and would choose that everyday if given the choice. But I do think the variability in economic circumstances means that some kids just don't have the warm clothing they need. My kid also NEVER stops moving. I can see some of the, um, calmer children might be colder.

So I don't think we need to approach this as "BURN THE PLACE TO THE GROUND" type of post that OP wrote here. But as a "hmm perhaps some of our mitigation measures should be changed now that kids vaccines are available".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's winter time, vaccines are widely available for kids, and families having been dining indoors at restaurants since June 2020, but our kids are forced to eat outside at APS like prisoners. It's really beyond absurd.

My family dines in at family restaurants throughout Arlington, and we often see other APS families (and say hi). The vast majority of families are doing indoor playdates and birthday parties. Why is the burden being put on the least at risk members of this society (kids)? This charade has to stop.

And before you say "that's why we have cases" - COVID is never going away!! Look at Portugal, with 90%+ of people vaccinated. Most of Florida does none of these things and has the least amount of cases in the country right now. There are seasonal surges and these types of nonpharmaceutical interventions don't stop the spread of a highly transmissible virus, as is obvious. And what is the point of doing these procedures?

These Arlington COVID extremists are essentially saying our kids have to do these mitigation methods the rest of our lives, but they can stop when they become adults. There's 0 logic to this disparate (mis-) treatment of children. And newsflash - everyone will get be exposed to COVID repeatedly in their lifetime. Everyone.

This policy is simply appealing only to the most COVID extreme in Arlington. As Anthony Fauci is making clear, COVID will not be eradicated. If you're that concerned about your child getting a case of COVID (which almost everyone will in their lifetime) that you only "feel" safe if they're eating in "light rain" or with frozen hands outdoors, then you're free to have your child eat outside. But the rest of our children need to be allowed to continue doing exactly what the law allows in every other part of society and most are already doing every weekend with friends and family - eating indoors.

You were dining indoors with unvaccinated family in June 2020? JFC. That is why our schools were virtual last fall. Nice job.

Sit TF down - you obviously have bad judgement.

Here comes the morality play. Was dining indoors illegal? Restaurants were freely open.

The same type of mindset that said gay people were horrible people for having sex in the 1980s too, and responsible for AIDS. Disgusting.

Our schools were closed last fall because of our politicians, not because of COVID. That is clear, especially when you look at schools throughout the country and world that were open and cases in their community. But let's not get into that argument again. We know the closed school fanatics were wrong.

NP. You are coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs, PP. This seems like a variant of Godwins Law, so you lose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's winter time, vaccines are widely available for kids, and families having been dining indoors at restaurants since June 2020, but our kids are forced to eat outside at APS like prisoners. It's really beyond absurd.

My family dines in at family restaurants throughout Arlington, and we often see other APS families (and say hi). The vast majority of families are doing indoor playdates and birthday parties. Why is the burden being put on the least at risk members of this society (kids)? This charade has to stop.

And before you say "that's why we have cases" - COVID is never going away!! Look at Portugal, with 90%+ of people vaccinated. Most of Florida does none of these things and has the least amount of cases in the country right now. There are seasonal surges and these types of nonpharmaceutical interventions don't stop the spread of a highly transmissible virus, as is obvious. And what is the point of doing these procedures?

These Arlington COVID extremists are essentially saying our kids have to do these mitigation methods the rest of our lives, but they can stop when they become adults. There's 0 logic to this disparate (mis-) treatment of children. And newsflash - everyone will get be exposed to COVID repeatedly in their lifetime. Everyone.

This policy is simply appealing only to the most COVID extreme in Arlington. As Anthony Fauci is making clear, COVID will not be eradicated. If you're that concerned about your child getting a case of COVID (which almost everyone will in their lifetime) that you only "feel" safe if they're eating in "light rain" or with frozen hands outdoors, then you're free to have your child eat outside. But the rest of our children need to be allowed to continue doing exactly what the law allows in every other part of society and most are already doing every weekend with friends and family - eating indoors.

There are no children under 12 who are fully vaccinated. None. Zero. So, you need to be patient.

Schools telling children where to eat has happened since the beginning of schools. If you consider being told where to do things is treating children "like prisoners" then you should probably homeschool.

Your argument about children having to do things the rest of their lives, and also stopping when they are adults makes zero sense.

The reason we have these restrictions is because selfish people like you have been dining indoors.

I mean starting this Friday, they will be. But I'd agree that waiting until after the Winter Break to start changing lunch is a good idea.

I'd also agree that remaining flexible would be good. Meaning, if a school has more than 2 cases in a week, they could move back to outdoor lunch. But otherwise, inside should work.

Our elementary school already has much better cohorting than the middle and high school kids. And we have had few cases (less than 10 in a 700+ person school). I do think indoor lunch is worth some minor increased risk AFTER the kids are considered fully vaccinated (for mine that 12/15, which is practically winter break anyhow).

[Anonymous]

My god Op, your kids must be the southern equivalent of snowflakes. As an elementary student I often camped in 30 degree weather, including eating my meals.

Trust me, unless we get a polar vortex, your kids aren’t getting frostbite in DC for almost all days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's winter time, vaccines are widely available for kids, and families having been dining indoors at restaurants since June 2020, but our kids are forced to eat outside at APS like prisoners. It's really beyond absurd.

My family dines in at family restaurants throughout Arlington, and we often see other APS families (and say hi). The vast majority of families are doing indoor playdates and birthday parties. Why is the burden being put on the least at risk members of this society (kids)? This charade has to stop.

And before you say "that's why we have cases" - COVID is never going away!! Look at Portugal, with 90%+ of people vaccinated. Most of Florida does none of these things and has the least amount of cases in the country right now. There are seasonal surges and these types of nonpharmaceutical interventions don't stop the spread of a highly transmissible virus, as is obvious. And what is the point of doing these procedures?

These Arlington COVID extremists are essentially saying our kids have to do these mitigation methods the rest of our lives, but they can stop when they become adults. There's 0 logic to this disparate (mis-) treatment of children. And newsflash - everyone will get be exposed to COVID repeatedly in their lifetime. Everyone.

This policy is simply appealing only to the most COVID extreme in Arlington. As Anthony Fauci is making clear, COVID will not be eradicated. If you're that concerned about your child getting a case of COVID (which almost everyone will in their lifetime) that you only "feel" safe if they're eating in "light rain" or with frozen hands outdoors, then you're free to have your child eat outside. But the rest of our children need to be allowed to continue doing exactly what the law allows in every other part of society and most are already doing every weekend with friends and family - eating indoors.

You were dining indoors with unvaccinated family in June 2020? JFC. That is why our schools were virtual last fall. Nice job.

Sit TF down - you obviously have bad judgement.

Here comes the morality play. Was dining indoors illegal? Restaurants were freely open.

The same type of mindset that said gay people were horrible people for having sex in the 1980s too, and responsible for AIDS. Disgusting.

Our schools were closed last fall because of our politicians, not because of COVID. That is clear, especially when you look at schools throughout the country and world that were open and cases in their community. But let's not get into that argument again. We know the closed school fanatics were wrong.

Yes, you are amoral. That is clear. And the reason why our schools were virtual.

Sit down and let people who can properly manage risks figure this out.

Properly manage risks? People are dining indoors now (without any distancing requirements) and schools are open...riddle me that. You do understand that COVID risk is age stratified right? If a 65 year old can eat indoors, why can't a 7 year old? That 65 year old, even if triple vaxxed, has a higher risk than the 7 year old. This is all illogical and irrational and so are your arguments that eating indoors last summer somehow made schools close. What a jump.

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

There are things we can do to reduce community transmission and you are pushing for the OPPOSITE.

Stop being spiteful and let kids eat outdoors FFS. We've had great weather so not even sure why this is a complaint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am begging, BEGGING, parents and community members to understand how very, very low risk kids are of severe illness from COVID. https://brownstone.org/articles/well-structured-german-study-shows-no-deaths-among-healthy-german-kids-ages-5-to-11/

I am begging, BEGGING, idiots like you to understand that children don't live alone. That when they are quarantined or bring illness home it impacts the health of adults, which impacts the lives of children. In addition, it has had a devastating impact on our economy.

Adults have had vaccines available for a year for them now. So what you're saying is illogical. People are allowed to get colds (which COVID is for kids and vaccinated adults, except those without comorbidities).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I was VERY supportive of outdoor lunch to start the year. Even in the heat, and yes now in the cold. But I do think the game changer here is the available kid's vaccine. I think in January, the default should go back to indoor lunch, with outdoor lunch when it's dry and over 45 degrees.

My kid is in 2nd grade and personally LOVES eating lunch outside and would choose that everyday if given the choice. But I do think the variability in economic circumstances means that some kids just don't have the warm clothing they need. My kid also NEVER stops moving. I can see some of the, um, calmer children might be colder.

So I don't think we need to approach this as "BURN THE PLACE TO THE GROUND" type of post that OP wrote here. But as a "hmm perhaps some of our mitigation measures should be changed now that kids vaccines are available".

Agree. And OP has no place in that conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Properly manage risks? People are dining indoors now (without any distancing requirements) and schools are open...riddle me that. You do understand that COVID risk is age stratified right? If a 65 year old can eat indoors, why can't a 7 year old? That 65 year old, even if triple vaxxed, has a higher risk than the 7 year old. This is all illogical and irrational and so are your arguments that eating indoors last summer somehow made schools close. What a jump.

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

There are things we can do to reduce community transmission and you are pushing for the OPPOSITE.

Stop being spiteful and let kids eat outdoors FFS. We've had great weather so not even sure why this is a complaint.

COVID will be here forever, and there are vaccines available. Putting onerous burdens on only kids is absolutely absurd. Considering how effective vaccines are, counting cases at this point is so ridiculous.

But if people want to do these things on their own, have at it. It's the point though that you're forcing your own very warped view of morality down our kids' throats. Avoidance of a virus that will be here for the rest of our lives at all costs is a few Arlingtonian's version of bible-thumping, evangelical Christianity (both think they must force them on other people, whether they want it or not).

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the angst about eating outside in *December* when it was 65 degrees and sunny yesterday. Kids weren't even wearing coats. Can we not focus on the month and just look at the weather? This isn't Siberia. There are many nice days even in the winter here.

My 3rd grader loves eating outside. It gets her extra playground time and fresh air. I 100% support keeping outside lunch forever in good weather, irrespective of COVID. Indoor lunch is fine for bad weather days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Properly manage risks? People are dining indoors now (without any distancing requirements) and schools are open...riddle me that. You do understand that COVID risk is age stratified right? If a 65 year old can eat indoors, why can't a 7 year old? That 65 year old, even if triple vaxxed, has a higher risk than the 7 year old. This is all illogical and irrational and so are your arguments that eating indoors last summer somehow made schools close. What a jump.

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

There are things we can do to reduce community transmission and you are pushing for the OPPOSITE.

Stop being spiteful and let kids eat outdoors FFS. We've had great weather so not even sure why this is a complaint.

COVID will be here forever, and there are vaccines available. Putting onerous burdens on only kids is absolutely absurd. Considering how effective vaccines are, counting cases at this point is so ridiculous.

But if people want to do these things on their own, have at it. It's the point though that you're forcing your own very warped view of morality down our kids' throats. Avoidance of a virus that will be here for the rest of our lives at all costs is a few Arlingtonian's version of bible-thumping, evangelical Christianity (both think they must force them on other people, whether they want it or not).

Gosh, is your kid really such a privileged snowflake that he or she can't eat outside in dry mid Atlantic weather? You consider being outside when it's in the 40s to be "onerous"? Get some perspective.

[Anonymous]

The OP is over the top, but I agree outdoor lunch should be optional. And I mean truly optional, no recommendation or guilting to eat outside. My kids are vaccinated and very low risk. Kids that have family members they are concerned about can continue to eat outdoors. Indoor lunch should absolutely be allowed at this point.

[Anonymous]

I agree outdoor lunch should be optional. Our elementary school policy is to eat outside as long as it's above freezing and not raining or overly windy. If a kid doesn't want to eat outside when it's 35 degrees they shouldn't have to, particularly now that vaccines are readily available for 5-11 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Properly manage risks? People are dining indoors now (without any distancing requirements) and schools are open...riddle me that. You do understand that COVID risk is age stratified right? If a 65 year old can eat indoors, why can't a 7 year old? That 65 year old, even if triple vaxxed, has a higher risk than the 7 year old. This is all illogical and irrational and so are your arguments that eating indoors last summer somehow made schools close. What a jump.

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

There are things we can do to reduce community transmission and you are pushing for the OPPOSITE.

Stop being spiteful and let kids eat outdoors FFS. We've had great weather so not even sure why this is a complaint.

COVID will be here forever, and there are vaccines available. Putting onerous burdens on only kids is absolutely absurd. Considering how effective vaccines are, counting cases at this point is so ridiculous.

But if people want to do these things on their own, have at it. It's the point though that you're forcing your own very warped view of morality down our kids' throats. Avoidance of a virus that will be here for the rest of our lives at all costs is a few Arlingtonian's version of bible-thumping, evangelical Christianity (both think they must force them on other people, whether they want it or not).

Gosh, is your kid really such a privileged snowflake that he or she can't eat outside in dry mid Atlantic weather? You consider being outside when it's in the 40s to be "onerous"? Get some perspective.

DP, but... why? There's no reason to keep doing it when it's uncomfortable and we have vaccines.