COVID outbreak since masks optional

[Anonymous]

no one mentioned "outbreak" - just a steady stream of cases being reported despite increased assurances of lower overall risk.

I'm still incredulous that masking is not required for those classes predominantly under 5. None of those students have access to vaccines yet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no one mentioned "outbreak" - just a steady stream of cases being reported despite increased assurances of lower overall risk.

I'm still incredulous that masking is not required for those classes predominantly under 5. None of those students have access to vaccines yet

lol

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. Our NovA division has been mask optional for month. We didn’t see any noticeable increase in cases until this past week. Adults (admin and staff) are dropping like flies. I’m sure a lot of students have it also but no one is testing so who really knows. Kind of glad I had it recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Our NovA division has been mask optional for month. We didn’t see any noticeable increase in cases until this past week. Adults (admin and staff) are dropping like flies. I’m sure a lot of students have it also but no one is testing so who really knows. Kind of glad I had it recently.

"Dropping like flies" meaning, testing positive with mild or no symptoms? Or like actually dying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Our NovA division has been mask optional for month. We didn’t see any noticeable increase in cases until this past week. Adults (admin and staff) are dropping like flies. I’m sure a lot of students have it also but no one is testing so who really knows. Kind of glad I had it recently.

"Dropping like flies" meaning, testing positive with mild or no symptoms? Or like actually dying?

One unvaccinated staff member is super sick. No one else is complaining. The stomach virus that ripped through the building two weeks ago was MUCH worse for everyone.

[Anonymous]

We can’t force mask kids forever. Sorry. It’s a cold now. See Obama, Hilliard, Psaki, etc. stay home if sick. This is here forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it the chicken or the egg? Cases were already rising with the new omicron strain. Studies have shown masks to be ineffective against Omicron. I don't think you can blame the rise in school cases on going maskless. SWS had COVID cases previously (remember the first wave right before winter break? there were a lot!) with masks on.

I also don't think you can call 8 cases an "outbreak" without evidence that they all came from the same grade/class.

This is wrong. Cloth masks with gaps and lower filtration qualities are less effective against Omicron, but not high quality K95 and N95 masks

NP. The way most kids wear KN95s and KF94s, they allow a lot of air to get in around the edges, even if they look as if they fit (and often there are visible gaps). That's why they are "comfortable". A tightly sealed N95, which nobody should ever make their kid wear for 8 hours a day, is a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can’t force mask kids forever. Sorry. It’s a cold now. See Obama, Hilliard, Psaki, etc. stay home if sick. This is here forever.

This. Mandatory masking of children should never be reinstated. It was a misguided policy all along. If cases go up, whoever wants to can put their kids in a high-quality mask, but don't force it on everybody else's kids again.

[Anonymous]

Our school has had no noticeable uptick. But I agree that one week isn't data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there were no cases the whole time kids were masked, and now there’s 8?

Very few. Not like this.

Incorrect. Also, I'm not sure where you are getting 8. The last notice I saw was five. SWS had a lot of cases before winter break, when everyone was wearing masks. Cases are rising everywhere. There will never be zero COVID.

The recent notice about five cases was not the first notice of the week…

[Anonymous]

I agree. It’s crazy how many cases we have gotten in the past week or so. Hoping kids won’t go back to wearing masks though. Covid is here to stay.


SWS parent

[Anonymous]

Ah yes, the dreaded "outbreak" of positive-testing, yet obliviously healthy kids.

[Anonymous]

There have been 2 in my child's class alone since last Wednesday. Previously we had almost no cases. Not thrilled. At WOTP ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it the chicken or the egg? Cases were already rising with the new omicron strain. Studies have shown masks to be ineffective against Omicron. I don't think you can blame the rise in school cases on going maskless. SWS had COVID cases previously (remember the first wave right before winter break? there were a lot!) with masks on.

I also don't think you can call 8 cases an "outbreak" without evidence that they all came from the same grade/class.

This is wrong. Cloth masks with gaps and lower filtration qualities are less effective against Omicron, but not high quality K95 and N95 masks

NP. The way most kids wear KN95s and KF94s, they allow a lot of air to get in around the edges, even if they look as if they fit (and often there are visible gaps). That's why they are "comfortable". A tightly sealed N95, which nobody should ever make their kid wear for 8 hours a day, is a different story.

+1. The vast majority of normal people you see wearing KN95s or 94s aren’t wearing them “properly”. If you wear it “properly,” it is extremely uncomfortable and you would have marks on your face when you take it off. That’s how tight it needs to be to offer “full” protection.

[Anonymous]

No more at our MS than the last few months.