DCPS close contact mask policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and have been in total shock that we went straight from 100% masks required to 100% masks optional. No provisions for exposure, symptoms, etc, and now we are surprised that cases are going up? I've literally had classes full of coughing kids, no masks, and kids missing because they have Covid, kids leaving midday because their test came back positive, kids telling me cheerfully that they "had Covid yesterday but they are okay now" -- still coughing, still no mask. We couldn't even ask them to put one on.

There has to be a middle ground here!!!

I think the 10-day close contact rule is a step in the right direction. Though I think connecting it to symptoms -- if you're coughing, and it's not a known, chronic condition, mask up -- would make even more sense...

Then wear a mask if you’re worried. One-way masking works. And agreed that this policy is absurd. The kids could, in theory, have to be masked every week if everyone is deemed a close contact and there’s at least one case in the class each week, which effectively reinstitutes mandatory masking without calling it that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and have been in total shock that we went straight from 100% masks required to 100% masks optional. No provisions for exposure, symptoms, etc, and now we are surprised that cases are going up? I've literally had classes full of coughing kids, no masks, and kids missing because they have Covid, kids leaving midday because their test came back positive, kids telling me cheerfully that they "had Covid yesterday but they are okay now" -- still coughing, still no mask. We couldn't even ask them to put one on.

There has to be a middle ground here!!!

I think the 10-day close contact rule is a step in the right direction. Though I think connecting it to symptoms -- if you're coughing, and it's not a known, chronic condition, mask up -- would make even more sense...

Then wear a mask if you’re worried. One-way masking works. And agreed that this policy is absurd. The kids could, in theory, have to be masked every week if everyone is deemed a close contact and there’s at least one case in the class each week, which effectively reinstitutes mandatory masking without calling it that.

Everyone l knows that 1 way masking was something they made up so they can force ppl back into the office. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and have been in total shock that we went straight from 100% masks required to 100% masks optional. No provisions for exposure, symptoms, etc, and now we are surprised that cases are going up? I've literally had classes full of coughing kids, no masks, and kids missing because they have Covid, kids leaving midday because their test came back positive, kids telling me cheerfully that they "had Covid yesterday but they are okay now" -- still coughing, still no mask. We couldn't even ask them to put one on.

There has to be a middle ground here!!!

I think the 10-day close contact rule is a step in the right direction. Though I think connecting it to symptoms -- if you're coughing, and it's not a known, chronic condition, mask up -- would make even more sense...

Then wear a mask if you’re worried. One-way masking works. And agreed that this policy is absurd. The kids could, in theory, have to be masked every week if everyone is deemed a close contact and there’s at least one case in the class each week, which effectively reinstitutes mandatory masking without calling it that.

Everyone l knows that 1 way masking was something they made up so they can force ppl back into the office. Lol

Well, whatever. Point being, stop forcing these kids to wear masks!!

[Anonymous]

It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

Is this like the fundamental right to "breath raw air"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so stupid that mask policy is reactive at this point. There is very convincing research that mask mandates make no difference in schools. It’s been 2+ years and the NIH is just a few metro stops away … do some freakin’ research on this already!

I actually think making masks mandatory only when the entire class is a close contact of a confirmed covid case makes plenty of sense. (My kid is in a very similar situation this week.) Maybe no reason to wear masks all the time, but someone who was in the class Friday tested positive over the weekend. I'd rather put a mask on my kid than keep them home for days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

We have been in this situation for the last week and I understand that masking is only required inside for the close contacts; kids were specifically instructed that they may remove their masks for outdoor recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

We have been in this situation for the last week and I understand that masking is only required inside for the close contacts; kids were specifically instructed that they may remove their masks for outdoor recess.

We were told that it applies inside and outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

We have been in this situation for the last week and I understand that masking is only required inside for the close contacts; kids were specifically instructed that they may remove their masks for outdoor recess.

Our entire class is considered close contacts regardless of vaccination, whether they have been wearing a mask or even had covid recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

We have been in this situation for the last week and I understand that masking is only required inside for the close contacts; kids were specifically instructed that they may remove their masks for outdoor recess.

Our entire class is considered close contacts regardless of vaccination, whether they have been wearing a mask or even had covid recently.

Same. This makes ZERO sense. It will take the parents to get outraged yet again for this to change. DCPS apparently sneaked in an update to the guidance following spring break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

I agree. The question is how long are they going to keep this up? Forever? Covid isn't going away. One more reason to opt out of asymptomatic testing, which is pointless at this stage anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

I agree. The question is how long are they going to keep this up? Forever? Covid isn't going away. One more reason to opt out of asymptomatic testing, which is pointless at this stage anyway.

Yes, we opted out as well. DCPS has to realize that this super restrictive policies provide parents no incentive to test their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disgusting how many people think their kid has a fundamental right to cough all over people…

My vaccinated kid is not coughing. They are perfectly healthy and forced to wear a mask for 10 days because they were “exposed” to someone with covid. Who or for how long I’m not allowed to know. Even if they test negative on day five they still have to wear a mask for 10 days. Tell me how forcing a vaccinated healthy child to do that is ok?

Exactly. This have essentially backdoored another mandatory mask policy and people haven’t even caught on. There will always be a case. And this new policy requires masking at all times both inside AND outside, which is even more restrictive than the policy had been just prior to lifting the mandate completely and going mask optional. How people haven’t recognized what they are doing is beyond me.

I agree. The question is how long are they going to keep this up? Forever? Covid isn't going away. One more reason to opt out of asymptomatic testing, which is pointless at this stage anyway.

Yes, we opted out as well. DCPS has to realize that this super restrictive policies provide parents no incentive to test their children.

Agreed. I'm keeping my kids home if they have symptoms that suggest infectious disease, but I'm not testing unless I really have to. Just causes too much disruption for everybody involved.