When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like every time the CDC talks about "people" they are not including people under the age of 18.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.”

Hospitalization in DC is at an all time low. If there every was a time to relax masking in DC based on this statement its right now. Seems like the Mayor agreed and she relaxed masking - except for students who apparently are not counted as "people"

You have immediately been proven correct!

https://reason.com/2022/02/16/cdc-rochelle-walensky-masks-schools-covid-leaked-audio/

Sigh. At some point the politicians will need to recognize this as "guidance" and not "requirement."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like every time the CDC talks about "people" they are not including people under the age of 18.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.”

Hospitalization in DC is at an all time low. If there every was a time to relax masking in DC based on this statement its right now. Seems like the Mayor agreed and she relaxed masking - except for students who apparently are not counted as "people"

You have immediately been proven correct!

https://reason.com/2022/02/16/cdc-rochelle-walensky-masks-schools-covid-leaked-audio/

The argument, of course, is that masks curb transmission, and therefore "help keep schools open".

There are a number of problems with this argument:

1. The evidence that masks, the way kids generally wear them, curb transmission is weak.

2. Even if they do prevent some transmission, how large is the benefit, and does it outweigh the downsides of masks?

3. It's not the virus that closes schools, it's people, adults in this case making the decision. Given that kids are low risk and can be vaccinated, and that adults can be vaccinated and if they still think they are at risk they can protect themselves with an N95, should we keep looking for asymptomatic cases, and should we ever close schools because of "outbreaks" of a virus that doesn't cause more than a cold in the vast majority of kids and vaccinated teachers, and that we have now concluded everybody will meet sooner or later no matter what we do?

[Anonymous]

The WTU has Bowser in their pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html

Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the CDC is focusing more on Covid hospitalizations as the guide to whether public health measures should be lifted. Walensky said the CDC is reviewing its mask guidance and may soon issue an update. “ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its mask guidance, shifting its focus to Covid hospitalizations as a key measure of the severity of the outbreak and future guide for determining whether health safety protocols need to be tightened, according to the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.”

Finally!! I’ve had this mindset for quite some time now (basically since vaccines have been widely accessible. As a hardcore liberal, I think the push against this lately has been libs unwillingness to admit some GOP leaders were somewhat right. I’m not saying we should have been mask optional this whole time but certainly for vaccinated, especially once we say vaccinated people were still getting and and spreading it.

It’s so rare that someone who identifies as liberal calls themself a “Lib”.

I don’t need to prove to you that I am a die hard Lib. I donated the max to Robert White if that matters to you. You should give it a rest. You don’t even have the CDC on your side anymore. We can’t continue the phrase “trust the science” and then turn around and continue COVID theatre y’all. We are supposed to be the smart ones.

Some people on this forum are really desperate to deny that the tide is turning even within their own camp. The number of times I have seen the allegation that a poster is a - possibly paid - right wing troll is astounding. No, there actually, really are an increasing number of long-term Democrats who think Covid restrictions, especially on kids, are ridiculous. Quit denying reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html

Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the CDC is focusing more on Covid hospitalizations as the guide to whether public health measures should be lifted. Walensky said the CDC is reviewing its mask guidance and may soon issue an update. “ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its mask guidance, shifting its focus to Covid hospitalizations as a key measure of the severity of the outbreak and future guide for determining whether health safety protocols need to be tightened, according to the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.”

Finally!! I’ve had this mindset for quite some time now (basically since vaccines have been widely accessible. As a hardcore liberal, I think the push against this lately has been libs unwillingness to admit some GOP leaders were somewhat right. I’m not saying we should have been mask optional this whole time but certainly for vaccinated, especially once we say vaccinated people were still getting and and spreading it.

It’s so rare that someone who identifies as liberal calls themself a “Lib”.

I don’t need to prove to you that I am a die hard Lib. I donated the max to Robert White if that matters to you. You should give it a rest. You don’t even have the CDC on your side anymore. We can’t continue the phrase “trust the science” and then turn around and continue COVID theatre y’all. We are supposed to be the smart ones.

Some people on this forum are really desperate to deny that the tide is turning even within their own camp. The number of times I have seen the allegation that a poster is a - possibly paid - right wing troll is astounding. No, there actually, really are an increasing number of long-term Democrats who think Covid restrictions, especially on kids, are ridiculous. Quit denying reality.

+1.
Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like every time the CDC talks about "people" they are not including people under the age of 18.

“We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer,” Walensky told the public during a White House Covid update Wednesday. “We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen,” she said.”

Hospitalization in DC is at an all time low. If there every was a time to relax masking in DC based on this statement its right now. Seems like the Mayor agreed and she relaxed masking - except for students who apparently are not counted as "people"

You have immediately been proven correct!

https://reason.com/2022/02/16/cdc-rochelle-walensky-masks-schools-covid-leaked-audio/

And meanwhile there is also this, which doesn't give me a lot of hope:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/16/health/covid-masks-for-kids-white-house-plans/index.html

As long as people think like the mom quoted in the article, the insanity will continue. Note how she says: "When it comes to children particularly, you want to find a mask that's really comfortable and that's a good fit. So it's completely covering their nose and their mouth and there are no gaps -- because when the gaps occur, that's when the air leaking occurs too" -- As long as parents truly believe in this oxymoron of a mask - no air leaks, tight filter, but "really comfortable" to wear all day for a kid, we will not see progress.

[Anonymous]

The Right says, “My body, my choice”, when it comes to masks.

The Left says, “My body, my choice,”, when it comes to abortion.

Oh, how everything comes back around.

[Anonymous]

Yes, yes, I know, I know. They don’t always compare but the taglines are the same.

[Anonymous]

Never for elementary schools with kids under 5 attending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never for elementary schools with kids under 5 attending.

Trollololololol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never for elementary schools with kids under 5 attending.

And this thinking is why people are leaving public in droves. Or at least VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the "masking is racist" poster, but something I have seen mentioned:

Disproportionately it is less privileged, often nonwhite people who are subject to the burden of all day masking. Obviously there are exceptions (doctors, for example), but there are a lot of privileged people out there who are able to work from home but expect people to be masked if they pop into a grocery store. It's super easy to mask for a quick grocery run, but it's less easy for the worker who is there all day. Not saying the masking isn't appropriate -- just that the burden is disproportionate.

I think it's important to be aware of privilege when discussing pandemic precautions because they do not affect us all equally. It seemed to me that the "masking is racist" poster was referencing events and weddings with unmasked attendees and masked wait staff.

so along these lines, kids are disproportionately masking, compared to adults that work from home. And we should be aware of the privilege that work-from-home parents have when they declare that masking for children is no big deal.

I could not agree more.

+100

As a teacher I am so sick of wearing a mask all day. I take it off to ‘drink water’ as long as possible. Lots of kids have become really lax on mask wearing. I don’t care. Parents who want us to continue wearing masks all day need to spend 8 hours a day walking around and talking with a mask on. Because I know most just sit at home maskless or sit in an office twice a week. It’s utter BS.

[Anonymous]

Time for DC to speed it up. If you agree, sign this petition asking the gov't to make a plan to allow schools to go mask optional. https://chng.it/259Sgdhy46

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the "masking is racist" poster, but something I have seen mentioned:

Disproportionately it is less privileged, often nonwhite people who are subject to the burden of all day masking. Obviously there are exceptions (doctors, for example), but there are a lot of privileged people out there who are able to work from home but expect people to be masked if they pop into a grocery store. It's super easy to mask for a quick grocery run, but it's less easy for the worker who is there all day. Not saying the masking isn't appropriate -- just that the burden is disproportionate.

I think it's important to be aware of privilege when discussing pandemic precautions because they do not affect us all equally. It seemed to me that the "masking is racist" poster was referencing events and weddings with unmasked attendees and masked wait staff.

so along these lines, kids are disproportionately masking, compared to adults that work from home. And we should be aware of the privilege that work-from-home parents have when they declare that masking for children is no big deal.

I could not agree more.

+100

As a teacher I am so sick of wearing a mask all day. I take it off to ‘drink water’ as long as possible. Lots of kids have become really lax on mask wearing. I don’t care. Parents who want us to continue wearing masks all day need to spend 8 hours a day walking around and talking with a mask on. Because I know most just sit at home maskless or sit in an office twice a week. It’s utter BS.

Maybe it would help if DCPS heard from teachers asking for the mask mandate to be dropped? Because so far the assumption seems to be that it's teachers (along with some anxious parents) who want everyone to keep masking at school.

[Anonymous]

Teachers do want everyone to keep masking. 50% of us teachers have gotten sick, a significant percentage of that have long-COVID with long-term complications including heart and lung issues. Parents aren't allowed in schools right now (at least not many or for long periods) so I'm not sure what the huge concern is that they think is happening? Kids have been amazing at wearing masks, we do it all day, and its really not a problem to do so. I guarantee you that we will lose many, many older, high-risk and veteran teachers if a mask mandate is dropped this year. So take your pick - do you want qualified, veteran teachers providing high-quality instruction to masked kids or do you want maskless kids learning from substitutes - who at this point can be high school graduates, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, volunteers, etc. Which is it?