Which preschools have gone mask optional?

[Anonymous]

I have mixed feelings about this, and my DC daycare is now mask optional. I think I will have DC remove mask because he is obviously delay in speech with us paying 2 thousands every year on top of county services. I hope unmasking may encourage DC to talk more.

[Anonymous]

St Matthews weekday school in Annandale is now mask optional.

[Anonymous]

For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

Ask them to show you the policy because I think they’re confused. In fact, the county does not differentiate masked versus unmasked exposure for children. If they have been around a Covid positive person then the kids are considered exposed regardless of mask wearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

Ask them to show you the policy because I think they’re confused. In fact, the county does not differentiate masked versus unmasked exposure for children. If they have been around a Covid positive person then the kids are considered exposed regardless of mask wearing.

for 15 mins

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

Oh but that's about wearing a mask after the 5 days. Not a mask during the exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

Yup there’s what the policy says on paper, but the interpretation/application is entirely in the hands of the daycare director and who they talk to at DHHS as to whether you get the 5 or 10 days. When we had a daycare exposure in December, it was a 14 day quarantine because, paraphrasing, the kids don’t wear the masks well. Despite having to wear them all day. This was for a class with a mix of 2-3yos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

Oh but that's about wearing a mask after the 5 days. Not a mask during the exposure.

Not necessarily. The interpretation is ambiguous:

Are children under 2 years of age recommended to return earlier than 10 days to a child care setting from isolation or quarantine?
Because children under 2 are not recommended to wear a mask, the CDC currently advises that the safest option is to continue to quarantine or
isolation guidance, as applicable, for a full 10 days.


It could just as well mean that because the children were not wearing a mask at the time of exposure, it is safer for them to quarantine longer because there is a greater chance they are infected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

Oh but that's about wearing a mask after the 5 days. Not a mask during the exposure.

Not necessarily. The interpretation is ambiguous:

Are children under 2 years of age recommended to return earlier than 10 days to a child care setting from isolation or quarantine?
Because children under 2 are not recommended to wear a mask, the CDC currently advises that the safest option is to continue to quarantine or
isolation guidance, as applicable, for a full 10 days.


It could just as well mean that because the children were not wearing a mask at the time of exposure, it is safer for them to quarantine longer because there is a greater chance they are infected.

That is quite a leap and is a little nonsensical. There's no evidence that if you were masked but infected that you'll stop being infectious sooner. If you read the rest of the guidance, ending quarantine after 5 days is predicated on wearing a well-fitting mask around others. That is what this refers to. Though I wouldn't put it past DHHS to just make stuff up, they really don't care what the impact is as long as they are being covid safe lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

I can’t blame anybody or any daycare for thinking differently. The messaging has been confusing, and a lot of people are afraid to change because they don’t want to have this on the record.

And I wish I could help people understand that right now mask for childcare settings has been dropped. There was an email sent out that was extremely clear about this. It’s still recommended masking and it’s always the individual choice etc..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

I can’t blame anybody or any daycare for thinking differently. The messaging has been confusing, and a lot of people are afraid to change because they don’t want to have this on the record.

And I wish I could help people understand that right now mask for childcare settings has been dropped. There was an email sent out that was extremely clear about this. It’s still recommended masking and it’s always the individual choice etc..

To be clear, what exactly are they recommending? Universal masking? Because that means they're saying to child care providers that they should require masks - even if the government isn't imposing the requirement they are recommending the requirement. Or are they saying they recommend individuals in child care settings choose to mask? Neither is consistent with current CDC guidance which is very clear that when community levels are low nobody is recommended to mask, but they certainly can if they want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you in MoCo, what is happening with quarantine rules with no masks? Our daycare said they have to keep masks because MoCo DHHS ties quarantine policies to the use of masks for children under 5--when there is an exposure and children are masked, the quarantine is 5 days compared to 10 without masks. They said they are keeping masks until this changes because no wants longer quarantines.

I've never heard of treating an unmasked exposure differently from a masked exposure.

When our daycare announced the mask optional policy they did not announce a change to quarantine guidelines (I actually don't know what our quarantine guidelines are - back in January it was 10 days).

I have discovered that what DHHS puts in writing and what is says to parents and providers are two different things.

It is implied at the bottom:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf

As a footnote to the 5 day quarantine for unvaccinated, it says that because children under 2 cannot wear masks, they must quarantine for 10 days. So the implication is that if unvaccinated children 2-4 don't wear masks, they must also quarantine for 10 days.

I can’t blame anybody or any daycare for thinking differently. The messaging has been confusing, and a lot of people are afraid to change because they don’t want to have this on the record.

And I wish I could help people understand that right now mask for childcare settings has been dropped. There was an email sent out that was extremely clear about this. It’s still recommended masking and it’s always the individual choice etc..

To be clear, what exactly are they recommending? Universal masking? Because that means they're saying to child care providers that they should require masks - even if the government isn't imposing the requirement they are recommending the requirement. Or are they saying they recommend individuals in child care settings choose to mask? Neither is consistent with current CDC guidance which is very clear that when community levels are low nobody is recommended to mask, but they certainly can if they want to.

The county is saying nobody needs to mask.