Which preschools have gone mask optional?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks.

You know what they always say about public health guidance. It's more effective, if instead of being widely disseminated, it's emailed to a specific set of stakeholders while the public scrambles for information on anonymous internet forums. JFC DHHS is the absolute worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks.

You know what they always say about public health guidance. It's more effective, if instead of being widely disseminated, it's emailed to a specific set of stakeholders while the public scrambles for information on anonymous internet forums. JFC DHHS is the absolute worst.

I completely understand the Internet’s hesitation on taking the word of an anonymous person. I wouldn’t! But, I am trying to be truthful and help in any small way I can to clear things up.

Like I said earlier, it is very confusing. Directors, owners and family childcare providers are all very scared of making the change because they don’t want their license is revoked (this was early on in the pandemic it was implied that they would!), marred (does Licensing reports that all the parents check it would show up there as some kind of huge noncompliance), or two need to deal with families who wish to remain masked. These past couple of years have been extremely difficult and making the change back to normal will be difficult for some people/businesses.

I wish there was less double speak and nuanced guidances and regulations. Just be upfront, honest and clear and it would be better for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks.

You know what they always say about public health guidance. It's more effective, if instead of being widely disseminated, it's emailed to a specific set of stakeholders while the public scrambles for information on anonymous internet forums. JFC DHHS is the absolute worst.

I completely understand the Internet’s hesitation on taking the word of an anonymous person. I wouldn’t! But, I am trying to be truthful and help in any small way I can to clear things up.

Like I said earlier, it is very confusing. Directors, owners and family childcare providers are all very scared of making the change because they don’t want their license is revoked (this was early on in the pandemic it was implied that they would!), marred (does Licensing reports that all the parents check it would show up there as some kind of huge noncompliance), or two need to deal with families who wish to remain masked. These past couple of years have been extremely difficult and making the change back to normal will be difficult for some people/businesses.

I wish there was less double speak and nuanced guidances and regulations. Just be upfront, honest and clear and it would be better for everybody.

I'm sorry - my anger is not at all directed at you, it's all for DHHS. Thanks for sharing this info. I do appreciate it. It's just...DHHS is unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Thanks.

You know what they always say about public health guidance. It's more effective, if instead of being widely disseminated, it's emailed to a specific set of stakeholders while the public scrambles for information on anonymous internet forums. JFC DHHS is the absolute worst.

I completely understand the Internet’s hesitation on taking the word of an anonymous person. I wouldn’t! But, I am trying to be truthful and help in any small way I can to clear things up.

Like I said earlier, it is very confusing. Directors, owners and family childcare providers are all very scared of making the change because they don’t want their license is revoked (this was early on in the pandemic it was implied that they would!), marred (does Licensing reports that all the parents check it would show up there as some kind of huge noncompliance), or two need to deal with families who wish to remain masked. These past couple of years have been extremely difficult and making the change back to normal will be difficult for some people/businesses.

I wish there was less double speak and nuanced guidances and regulations. Just be upfront, honest and clear and it would be better for everybody.

I'm sorry - my anger is not at all directed at you, it's all for DHHS. Thanks for sharing this info. I do appreciate it. It's just...DHHS is unbelievable.

I didn’t think it was. It’s been tough for everyone and I hope your daycare catches up soon.

[Anonymous]

Our school had promised an update today and we just got a message punting until Monday. I am livid. My 4 year old doesn’t understand why he has to wear a mask and literally no one else in our family or any other setting has to wear one. This is so messed up.

[Anonymous]

Goddard- Gaithersburg is mask optional for both students/teachers. Parents must sign a waiver if they want their child to continue to wear their masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goddard- Gaithersburg is mask optional for both students/teachers. Parents must sign a waiver if they want their child to continue to wear their masks.

What exactly are they waiving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Goddard- Gaithersburg is mask optional for both students/teachers. Parents must sign a waiver if they want their child to continue to wear their masks.

What exactly are they waiving?

Don’t know but our current preschool required a permission form for masks even back when they were required. Just one of the forms.

[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..

This is making more sense now, thank you. That’s essentially the language our daycare used- going optional but masks still strongly recommended for kids under 5 until they can be vaccinated. At first I was a bit puzzled why the school was essentially doling our health advice to parents but it sounds like that can straight from the county.

[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..

This is making more sense now, thank you. That’s essentially the language our daycare used- going optional but masks still strongly recommended for kids under 5 until they can be vaccinated. At first I was a bit puzzled why the school was essentially doling our health advice to parents but it sounds like that can straight from the county.

DP it actually doesn"t make sense at all for DHHS to make up its own guidance. Masks are not needed right now.

[Anonymous]

It's so nonsensical to say preschool children are recommended to mask because they are unvaccinated, when this same recommendation doesn't apply to older children or adults who choose remain unvaccinated. I swear to God, we really hate young children in this county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's so nonsensical to say preschool children are recommended to mask because they are unvaccinated, when this same recommendation doesn't apply to older children or adults who choose remain unvaccinated. I swear to God, we really hate young children in this county.

Stop with the hysterics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's so nonsensical to say preschool children are recommended to mask because they are unvaccinated, when this same recommendation doesn't apply to older children or adults who choose remain unvaccinated. I swear to God, we really hate young children in this county.

Stop with the hysterics.

DP but I don't think it sounds hysterical at all. It's 100% true that the under fives have been given the worst of the restrictions by far with no end in sight at some daycares/preschools.

I'm sorry but saying the under fives require a mask because they can't be vaccinated and then having them have no mask during a 1-2 hour nap plus lunch and snacks is just plain dumb and makes no logical sense at all. So yes, it does very much seem like the county seems to want to punish this age group continually. A young child wearing a mask during a critical time of language learning is detrimental. Studies are coming out slowly but they are coming out and it's not good. So yeah-Not hysterical in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's so nonsensical to say preschool children are recommended to mask because they are unvaccinated, when this same recommendation doesn't apply to older children or adults who choose remain unvaccinated. I swear to God, we really hate young children in this county.

Stop with the hysterics.

DP but I don't think it sounds hysterical at all. It's 100% true that the under fives have been given the worst of the restrictions by far with no end in sight at some daycares/preschools.

I'm sorry but saying the under fives require a mask because they can't be vaccinated and then having them have no mask during a 1-2 hour nap plus lunch and snacks is just plain dumb and makes no logical sense at all. So yes, it does very much seem like the county seems to want to punish this age group continually. A young child wearing a mask during a critical time of language learning is detrimental. Studies are coming out slowly but they are coming out and it's not good. So yeah-Not hysterical in my opinion.

+1

Any benefit to masking preschoolers is theoretical and marginal at best. If we’re actually concerned about community transmission and protecting vulnerable people, this isn’t the group/venue to target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's so nonsensical to say preschool children are recommended to mask because they are unvaccinated, when this same recommendation doesn't apply to older children or adults who choose remain unvaccinated. I swear to God, we really hate young children in this county.

Stop with the hysterics.

DP but I don't think it sounds hysterical at all. It's 100% true that the under fives have been given the worst of the restrictions by far with no end in sight at some daycares/preschools.

I'm sorry but saying the under fives require a mask because they can't be vaccinated and then having them have no mask during a 1-2 hour nap plus lunch and snacks is just plain dumb and makes no logical sense at all. So yes, it does very much seem like the county seems to want to punish this age group continually. A young child wearing a mask during a critical time of language learning is detrimental. Studies are coming out slowly but they are coming out and it's not good. So yeah-Not hysterical in my opinion.

+1

Any benefit to masking preschoolers is theoretical and marginal at best. If we’re actually concerned about community transmission and protecting vulnerable people, this isn’t the group/venue to target.

I agree, but now parents have seem to have bought into the you-must-protect-your-kids-until-they-are-vaccinated line. At our daycare anyway. I don’t get it, but observation tells me I am in the extreme minority not sending my 2yo in with a mask now that it’s no longer required. The rest are still even wearing them outside!