Why aren’t schools with high COVID rates masking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If only MCPS would have reinstated masking after spring break, we could have avoided this mess. Sigh.

How would cases being 20% lower meaningfully change anything?

It would have changed quite a bit for your child's future if you hadn't infected them four times with covid already. I know you don't believe that. Doesn't change it.i hope they enjoy the diabetes and brain damage.

Every time we had masking and took efforts to curb the spread... We did, in fact curb the spread. Things were lifted, cases went up. A new variant, more infectious than the last? Again, cases went up.

As I've said before, a reasonable, sane person would try not to infect others or themselves multiple times with a virus that causes organ damage. But then there's you, who just comes here for attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. My child is wearing a KN95. And plenty of other kids in the school are, but it’s the kids who aren’t, whose parents send them in sick, and who aren’t vaccinated concern me. I understand the political concerns about reinstating mask mandates but honestly isn’t the point that when there’s high transmission in a particular school you bring them back temporarily and then as cases lower you remove it? Like are we literally so dumb we can’t understand how to implement a protective measure when it’s warranted? Seems silly to have masked the kids for the better part of a school year when numbers were lower only to refuse to bring them back on a case by case basis in schools with High transmission because elected reps are more concerned with their re election than keeping kids safe and well?

I feel bad for your kid. Kn95 all day? During crucial developmental years? I think you need a reality check. You can’t hide from covid. Kids are low risk. You can get vaccinated/boosted. If other people decide to vaccinate themselves or their kids that doesn’t affect you at all. People get to make their own risk analysis. My kids will never mask again. Neither will I.

That is so selfish. School is not the same as going out to a bar or movie theater. Every kid deserves an in person education. Some kids are immunocompromised, high risk for complications or live with family members who are high risk. We need to be thinking of them too, and when there are huge surges like this we absolutely as a community should be putting the masks back on in an effort to do our best to protect our vulnerable kids/families who deserve to keep going to school in person too just like everyone else. I initially didn’t make my daughters mask when the mandate dropped and numbers were low, but now they are back on to protect them and everyone else.

And all that vulnerable families had the option to enroll in VA- the ones I know took advantage of that opportunity. Asking kids to wear properly fitted KN95s all day is a selfish request.

How is it selfish to ask children to mask for a few weeks to limit the number of kids who get COVID? It’s a prudent, caring action. If you are a religious person of any sort you would know that we have a moral duty to care for one another and to protect each other. If You identify as a religious person, you have a moral duty to encourage your children to mask to protect them and other children and families who may become sick or otherwise be vulnerable.

There’s a lot of gray area between believing masks are evil and should never be worn to believing masks should be worn all the time and acting like we are all under COVID lock downs a la 2020. Most people are in the gray, and are not a part of a false oversimplified binary.

This is very well said.

Sadly, this board is infected by a troll who puts everything in the binary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This discussion has become ridiculous, but an interesting issue is being raised: the impact of masking for younger children who are in before and aftercare and, therefore, required to mask for many hours per day.

All children must attend public school (unless other arrangements are made). Nearly everyone agrees that virtual schooling is not a long-term solution for most kids and works very poorly for many. Given that COVID is here to stay and we are currently in a surge, it is fair to say "no masks" in school at all during periods of significant community spread simply because some kids attend before and aftercare.

I wish more people were reasonable and not screaming about being done with masks. Masks should be worn by those with symptoms, those returning after being positive, and those who have been exposed (although I could live without that). If people embrace only the "no masks required" part of the CDC guidance but completely ignore the advice about staying home when sick, testing, and masking with a high-quality mask when you have symptoms or when returning or if a close contact, some cases could be prevented. Sure, one-way masking offers personal protection, but it is less effective when so there are so many cases and when people feel entitled to send maskless kids to school or to ignore testing and isolation advice. You can't wear an N-95 for an entire day without eating or drinking some water.

As you said, Covid is here to stay, so we need learn to live with it. We should be moving on to sustainable policies, and not overreact whenever there’s an increase in cases. This is how we approach the flu- do you see people freaking out every winter when there’s a “surge” in flu cases? No. We take simple precautions, like flu shots, and accept some risk in order to continue our lives.

There’s no reason to think our current situation isn’t about as good as it’s going to get. Hospitalizations and deaths in people that have been vaccinated aged and boosted are low. And there's a high degree of immunity from vaccination and infection during the January omicron surge. Case numbers will ebb and flow over time, varying based on actual changes in infections as well as based on changes in testing practices, but we have every reason to think our current situation will be a common occurrence. So anyone talking about mask mandates or required quarantine periods is effectively proposing those as permanent practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If only MCPS would have reinstated masking after spring break, we could have avoided this mess. Sigh.

How would cases being 20% lower meaningfully change anything?

It would have changed quite a bit for your child's future if you hadn't infected them four times with covid already. I know you don't believe that. Doesn't change it.i hope they enjoy the diabetes and brain damage.

Every time we had masking and took efforts to curb the spread... We did, in fact curb the spread. Things were lifted, cases went up. A new variant, more infectious than the last? Again, cases went up.

As I've said before, a reasonable, sane person would try not to infect others or themselves multiple times with a virus that causes organ damage. But then there's you, who just comes here for attention.

Lol to your credit your performance as an off-her-rocker Covid martyr is pretty spot on, well done. I bet the Russians would hire you for their troll farms if you want a paying gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If only MCPS would have reinstated masking after spring break, we could have avoided this mess. Sigh.

How would cases being 20% lower meaningfully change anything?

It would have changed quite a bit for your child's future if you hadn't infected them four times with covid already. I know you don't believe that. Doesn't change it.i hope they enjoy the diabetes and brain damage.

Every time we had masking and took efforts to curb the spread... We did, in fact curb the spread. Things were lifted, cases went up. A new variant, more infectious than the last? Again, cases went up.

As I've said before, a reasonable, sane person would try not to infect others or themselves multiple times with a virus that causes organ damage. But then there's you, who just comes here for attention.

Lol to your credit your performance as an off-her-rocker Covid martyr is pretty spot on, well done. I bet the Russians would hire you for their troll farms if you want a paying gig.

What is wrong with you??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If only MCPS would have reinstated masking after spring break, we could have avoided this mess. Sigh.

How would cases being 20% lower meaningfully change anything?

It would have changed quite a bit for your child's future if you hadn't infected them four times with covid already. I know you don't believe that. Doesn't change it.i hope they enjoy the diabetes and brain damage.

Every time we had masking and took efforts to curb the spread... We did, in fact curb the spread. Things were lifted, cases went up. A new variant, more infectious than the last? Again, cases went up.

As I've said before, a reasonable, sane person would try not to infect others or themselves multiple times with a virus that causes organ damage. But then there's you, who just comes here for attention.

Lol to your credit your performance as an off-her-rocker Covid martyr is pretty spot on, well done. I bet the Russians would hire you for their troll farms if you want a paying gig.

+1

That poster is literally insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This discussion has become ridiculous, but an interesting issue is being raised: the impact of masking for younger children who are in before and aftercare and, therefore, required to mask for many hours per day.

All children must attend public school (unless other arrangements are made). Nearly everyone agrees that virtual schooling is not a long-term solution for most kids and works very poorly for many. Given that COVID is here to stay and we are currently in a surge, it is fair to say "no masks" in school at all during periods of significant community spread simply because some kids attend before and aftercare.

I wish more people were reasonable and not screaming about being done with masks. Masks should be worn by those with symptoms, those returning after being positive, and those who have been exposed (although I could live without that). If people embrace only the "no masks required" part of the CDC guidance but completely ignore the advice about staying home when sick, testing, and masking with a high-quality mask when you have symptoms or when returning or if a close contact, some cases could be prevented. Sure, one-way masking offers personal protection, but it is less effective when so there are so many cases and when people feel entitled to send maskless kids to school or to ignore testing and isolation advice. You can't wear an N-95 for an entire day without eating or drinking some water.

As you said, Covid is here to stay, so we need learn to live with it. We should be moving on to sustainable policies, and not overreact whenever there’s an increase in cases. This is how we approach the flu- do you see people freaking out every winter when there’s a “surge” in flu cases? No. We take simple precautions, like flu shots, and accept some risk in order to continue our lives.

There’s no reason to think our current situation isn’t about as good as it’s going to get. Hospitalizations and deaths in people that have been vaccinated aged and boosted are low. And there's a high degree of immunity from vaccination and infection during the January omicron surge. Case numbers will ebb and flow over time, varying based on actual changes in infections as well as based on changes in testing practices, but we have every reason to think our current situation will be a common occurrence. So anyone talking about mask mandates or required quarantine periods is effectively proposing those as permanent practices.

I have taught in schools that had to close for flu outbreaks. They spent a few days disinfecting the school and letting people recover at home. You can’t run a school without an adequate number of staff regardless of how many students are healthy on a given day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are welcome to mask your child.

This. You can mask your child. It is your choice. Nobody has banned masks.

[Anonymous]

Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

I hope that VA can continue for you, then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

I hope that VA can continue for you, then.

+1. If MCAP results are mediocre, it’s because schools were closed. This is documented everywhere now that school closures has harmed kids’ education. It’s not because there’s a bunch of kids in cognitive decline because of covid. If that were something to be concerned by, it would also be documented (and no, not by your anecdotes or fear mongering headlines).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

I hope that VA can continue for you, then.

+1. If MCAP results are mediocre, it’s because schools were closed. This is documented everywhere now that school closures has harmed kids’ education. It’s not because there’s a bunch of kids in cognitive decline because of covid. If that were something to be concerned by, it would also be documented (and no, not by your anecdotes or fear mongering headlines).

And MCAPs were given in the fall for classes taken in the spring. Summer learning loss is real!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

I hope that VA can continue for you, then.

+1. If MCAP results are mediocre, it’s because schools were closed. This is documented everywhere now that school closures has harmed kids’ education. It’s not because there’s a bunch of kids in cognitive decline because of covid. If that were something to be concerned by, it would also be documented (and no, not by your anecdotes or fear mongering headlines).

And MCAPs were given in the fall for classes taken in the spring. Summer learning loss is real!

Yup. If we actually cared about education in this country, we’d move to year-round school. Summer break is terrible for education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget that the stats for Covid in kids are pretty good.

Masking, no masking, vaccines, no vaccines, schools closed, schools open. Doesn’t matter. ZERO kids age 0-17 have died of Covid in Montgomery County during his entire pandemic.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#deaths-age

But how many have long term cognitive defects? No one knows. Maybe it will show up in MCAP results in a few years. I’m not taking that chance, my kid is a high achiever and I want them to have the chance to remain so.

I hope that VA can continue for you, then.

+1. If MCAP results are mediocre, it’s because schools were closed. This is documented everywhere now that school closures has harmed kids’ education. It’s not because there’s a bunch of kids in cognitive decline because of covid. If that were something to be concerned by, it would also be documented (and no, not by your anecdotes or fear mongering headlines).

And MCAPs were given in the fall for classes taken in the spring. Summer learning loss is real!

Yup. If we actually cared about education in this country, we’d move to year-round school. Summer break is terrible for education.

And wonderful for Children’s socialization, mental health, and experience of childhood. I guess having a nice experience for the sake of it is unacceptable now - we have to focus on pounding the joy out of kids through academics year round for what, exactly?