Maryland matches CDC mask guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who are the people to contact at the county level? I think my preschool and others will struggle to go against a strongly worded recommendation regardless of what they think. I can’t find an email address for dr. Bridger and it doesn’t seem the permanent position is going to be filled anytime soon

Well, we are mostly privileged compared to the child care workers. But, you don't formulate public health policy based on what the less privileged party wants. Look at the health-related benefits and risks of the policy, and make a recommendation. This should not be about what your preferred stakeholder wants.

I’m not even sure how many childcare workers are even pushing for this?

This is what I found for Dr. Bridgers: mailto:[e-mail]. As for who else would be relevant
, I’m not are but there are other staff, maybe ek wine else would know.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/moe.html#community

I recommend using the email addresses that come up in this county employee directory. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/searchphonebook.aspx

Also copy in Earl Stoddard. Also your local Councilmember and his staff plus Council President Gabe Albornoz (and his staff) as well as Councilmember Andrew Friedson and his staff. Friedson seems the most concerned with these types of issues. Albornoz is the chair of the HHS committee.

PP here. Thank you! This may be a dumb question but how do you find the staff members associated with the council members? Am I missing that? I agree about Friedson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who are the people to contact at the county level? I think my preschool and others will struggle to go against a strongly worded recommendation regardless of what they think. I can’t find an email address for dr. Bridger and it doesn’t seem the permanent position is going to be filled anytime soon

Well, we are mostly privileged compared to the child care workers. But, you don't formulate public health policy based on what the less privileged party wants. Look at the health-related benefits and risks of the policy, and make a recommendation. This should not be about what your preferred stakeholder wants.

I’m not even sure how many childcare workers are even pushing for this?

This is what I found for Dr. Bridgers: mailto:[e-mail]. As for who else would be relevant
, I’m not are but there are other staff, maybe ek wine else would know.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/moe.html#community

I am active in the child care alliance and childcare groups. The great majority of childcare providers want and have already taken masks off. Some want to keep masks on to prevent colds but they are in the super minority. It’s not a concern for Covid anymore.

The reason some are keeping masks on is because they face pressure from parents who don’t want to take off their children’s masks. But, what the parents don’t want to accept is that the kids aren’t wearing masks properly to begin with. The masks are off for many periods during the day such as meal times, nap times.

The reason others are keeping masks on is because they do not understand that the guidance is only a suggestion, not mandatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who are the people to contact at the county level? I think my preschool and others will struggle to go against a strongly worded recommendation regardless of what they think. I can’t find an email address for dr. Bridger and it doesn’t seem the permanent position is going to be filled anytime soon

Well, we are mostly privileged compared to the child care workers. But, you don't formulate public health policy based on what the less privileged party wants. Look at the health-related benefits and risks of the policy, and make a recommendation. This should not be about what your preferred stakeholder wants.

I’m not even sure how many childcare workers are even pushing for this?

This is what I found for Dr. Bridgers: mailto:[e-mail]. As for who else would be relevant
, I’m not are but there are other staff, maybe ek wine else would know.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/moe.html#community

I recommend using the email addresses that come up in this county employee directory. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/searchphonebook.aspx

Also copy in Earl Stoddard. Also your local Councilmember and his staff plus Council President Gabe Albornoz (and his staff) as well as Councilmember Andrew Friedson and his staff. Friedson seems the most concerned with these types of issues. Albornoz is the chair of the HHS committee.

PP here. Thank you! This may be a dumb question but how do you find the staff members associated with the council members? Am I missing that? I agree about Friedson.

On the county council website there is a page for each councilmember

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who are the people to contact at the county level? I think my preschool and others will struggle to go against a strongly worded recommendation regardless of what they think. I can’t find an email address for dr. Bridger and it doesn’t seem the permanent position is going to be filled anytime soon

Well, we are mostly privileged compared to the child care workers. But, you don't formulate public health policy based on what the less privileged party wants. Look at the health-related benefits and risks of the policy, and make a recommendation. This should not be about what your preferred stakeholder wants.

I’m not even sure how many childcare workers are even pushing for this?

This is what I found for Dr. Bridgers: mailto:[e-mail]. As for who else would be relevant
, I’m not are but there are other staff, maybe ek wine else would know.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/moe.html#community

I recommend using the email addresses that come up in this county employee directory. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/searchphonebook.aspx

Also copy in Earl Stoddard. Also your local Councilmember and his staff plus Council President Gabe Albornoz (and his staff) as well as Councilmember Andrew Friedson and his staff. Friedson seems the most concerned with these types of issues. Albornoz is the chair of the HHS committee.

Just wanted to chime in that although I did not think to copy the councilmember staff members, I actually got a reply from someone in Friedson's office saying he wants DHHS to align with the CDC/state on this stuff. So he is definitely a good one to encourage to keep speaking up about this.

I don't know if any of this will make a difference but at least I can say I tried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who are the people to contact at the county level? I think my preschool and others will struggle to go against a strongly worded recommendation regardless of what they think. I can’t find an email address for dr. Bridger and it doesn’t seem the permanent position is going to be filled anytime soon

Well, we are mostly privileged compared to the child care workers. But, you don't formulate public health policy based on what the less privileged party wants. Look at the health-related benefits and risks of the policy, and make a recommendation. This should not be about what your preferred stakeholder wants.

I’m not even sure how many childcare workers are even pushing for this?

This is what I found for Dr. Bridgers: mailto:[e-mail]. As for who else would be relevant
, I’m not are but there are other staff, maybe ek wine else would know.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/moe.html#community

I recommend using the email addresses that come up in this county employee directory. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/searchphonebook.aspx

Also copy in Earl Stoddard. Also your local Councilmember and his staff plus Council President Gabe Albornoz (and his staff) as well as Councilmember Andrew Friedson and his staff. Friedson seems the most concerned with these types of issues. Albornoz is the chair of the HHS committee.

Just wanted to chime in that although I did not think to copy the councilmember staff members, I actually got a reply from someone in Friedson's office saying he wants DHHS to align with the CDC/state on this stuff. So he is definitely a good one to encourage to keep speaking up about this.

I don't know if any of this will make a difference but at least I can say I tried.

Thanks for this - I feel the same as you about wanting to try. Will contact him next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news that MSDE is following CDC guidance. So MoCo and preschool/daycare directors - are you going to be the ones to make sure toddlers and preschoolers and their teachers are the only ones left masking, or are you going to align yourselves with public health guidance?

This was announced a few weeks ago and masking for two and over was always simply recommended. Directors and owners who continue to follow this advice or doing so as a business decision.

What was announced a few weeks ago. I only see the letter posted above, dared March 2 (yesterday).

Yes, we KNOW it is optional. Thank you for repeating that af nauseum. I also know our provider has not surveyed families. And, this decision does impact children's development, so there should be more than just "business" involved.

+1. When I’ve contacted MSDE about this I got similar replies, “oh it’s only recommended, not required!” Just completely missing the point that their recommendations are followed by many providers- and I can’t really blame the providers for doing this, they need something to refer to when making these decisions. This gives them cover to remove the masking requirement, unless of course MoCo comes along with a special recommendation refuting the state and CDC, which is bound to happen.

It makes you feel any better, Montgomery county came out a couple weeks ago and also said masks were no longer required in daycares. Even though they were never really required but their language made it seem like it was. But now they outright said it wasn’t.

Can you provide a link to this please?

People on this thread and others on the topic of daycare covid policies don't understand that each county makes it's own guidance and rules and is not required to follow state guidance.

I received an email.

On February 22 the mask mandate in Montgomery County was lifted for indoor settings, including child care. At this time, they are still required in public schools, public transportation (Metro, Metro Bus, and Ride-On), and in the incorporated cities of Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, and Rockville city buildings.

Despite the mandate being lifted, child care programs can continue to require staff and children or visitors to wear a mask. The County is strongly recommending those in our child care community who have not received their booster continue to wear a mask while in their child care settings.

It was not a link so I’m sorry I can’t provide that.

For those who want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, watch the County Council session from two days ago. Dr. Bridgers explicitly stated that universal masking is still recommended in child care and that, stunningly, the county plans to create its OWN updated guidance after the CDC and MSDE finish updating their child care specific guidance documents. Montgomery County always has to be special. I am assuming they want toddlers and preschoolers to mask indefinitely, and if that turns out to be true I will never listen to a word they say ever again.

JFC. I am so sick of this county and don’t understand why they are always pulling sh-t like this. So Dr. Bridgers is the one to write to then? And county council members?

I mean sure but I don't think it will matter. Honestly I think they will dig in solely to show that they can and to stick it to people they perceive as "privileged". Nevermind questions about how effective masks as worn by toddlers are in these settings or the very real developmental concerns. The fact that ASHA is seeing increased rates of speech delays is nothing for us to worry our pretty little heads about right?

I think it goes beyond the view that daycare families are privileged, although that’s part of it. But there are also some county employees who see it as their job to “protect” kids from their parents that would dare to put them in childcare during a pandemic. They did not agree with reopening daycares to the general population in summer 2020, they thought it should still be for essential worker kids. Hence all the guidance/restrictions that have always been more strict than the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news that MSDE is following CDC guidance. So MoCo and preschool/daycare directors - are you going to be the ones to make sure toddlers and preschoolers and their teachers are the only ones left masking, or are you going to align yourselves with public health guidance?

This was announced a few weeks ago and masking for two and over was always simply recommended. Directors and owners who continue to follow this advice or doing so as a business decision.

What was announced a few weeks ago. I only see the letter posted above, dared March 2 (yesterday).

Yes, we KNOW it is optional. Thank you for repeating that af nauseum. I also know our provider has not surveyed families. And, this decision does impact children's development, so there should be more than just "business" involved.

+1. When I’ve contacted MSDE about this I got similar replies, “oh it’s only recommended, not required!” Just completely missing the point that their recommendations are followed by many providers- and I can’t really blame the providers for doing this, they need something to refer to when making these decisions. This gives them cover to remove the masking requirement, unless of course MoCo comes along with a special recommendation refuting the state and CDC, which is bound to happen.

It makes you feel any better, Montgomery county came out a couple weeks ago and also said masks were no longer required in daycares. Even though they were never really required but their language made it seem like it was. But now they outright said it wasn’t.

Can you provide a link to this please?

People on this thread and others on the topic of daycare covid policies don't understand that each county makes it's own guidance and rules and is not required to follow state guidance.

I received an email.

On February 22 the mask mandate in Montgomery County was lifted for indoor settings, including child care. At this time, they are still required in public schools, public transportation (Metro, Metro Bus, and Ride-On), and in the incorporated cities of Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, and Rockville city buildings.

Despite the mandate being lifted, child care programs can continue to require staff and children or visitors to wear a mask. The County is strongly recommending those in our child care community who have not received their booster continue to wear a mask while in their child care settings.

It was not a link so I’m sorry I can’t provide that.

For those who want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, watch the County Council session from two days ago. Dr. Bridgers explicitly stated that universal masking is still recommended in child care and that, stunningly, the county plans to create its OWN updated guidance after the CDC and MSDE finish updating their child care specific guidance documents. Montgomery County always has to be special. I am assuming they want toddlers and preschoolers to mask indefinitely, and if that turns out to be true I will never listen to a word they say ever again.

JFC. I am so sick of this county and don’t understand why they are always pulling sh-t like this. So Dr. Bridgers is the one to write to then? And county council members?

I mean sure but I don't think it will matter. Honestly I think they will dig in solely to show that they can and to stick it to people they perceive as "privileged". Nevermind questions about how effective masks as worn by toddlers are in these settings or the very real developmental concerns. The fact that ASHA is seeing increased rates of speech delays is nothing for us to worry our pretty little heads about right?

I think it goes beyond the view that daycare families are privileged, although that’s part of it. But there are also some county employees who see it as their job to “protect” kids from their parents that would dare to put them in childcare during a pandemic. They did not agree with reopening daycares to the general population in summer 2020, they thought it should still be for essential worker kids. Hence all the guidance/restrictions that have always been more strict than the state.

JFC

There should really be a reckoning. Keeping a young child at home while trying to work full time is not only extremely stressful for the parent but is also damaging to the child. As much as I hate masking of young children, the social isolation is even worse as well as the impacts of being put in front of a TV the whole time. To emphasize, I think masking of young children is stupid and possibly harmful, and I also recognize that this pandemic has impacted young children in a lot of other ways that have definitely been harmful.

I have a relative who does high level public health work (on COVID) for another state and she made it clear to us at the beginning of the pandemic when we were agonizing about child care and how COVID safe it would be, that we needed to make choices on what was best for our child's development, because early childhood is a really critical time and COVID is not a high risk for our child (thankfully, we are not high risk). The idea that it was somehow better for families to keep their children home than to have them in child care is ridiculous and I would honestly consider it the equivalent of malpractice in terms of public health. Their attitude towards masking is just more of the same.

[Anonymous]

I'm happy for the K-12 students, but am stunned and disgusted that MoCo continues to recommend universal masking only for toddlers, preschoolers and their teachers. This is outrageous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm happy for the K-12 students, but am stunned and disgusted that MoCo continues to recommend universal masking only for toddlers, preschoolers and their teachers. This is outrageous.

I literally just said this to my husband. How is this real life?

[Anonymous]

Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

I don't know where it is written but if you watch last Tuesday's AM County Council session around the 1 hour and 49 minute mark Dr. Bridgers confirms they continue to recommend universal masking in child care citing "outbreaks" and that they are waiting on updated guidance from the CDC and MSDE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

I don't know where it is written but if you watch last Tuesday's AM County Council session around the 1 hour and 49 minute mark Dr. Bridgers confirms they continue to recommend universal masking in child care citing "outbreaks" and that they are waiting on updated guidance from the CDC and MSDE.

I don’t understand what further guidance they are waiting for from CDC and MSDE. And what “outbreaks”? Did anyone on the council press him on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

I don't know where it is written but if you watch last Tuesday's AM County Council session around the 1 hour and 49 minute mark Dr. Bridgers confirms they continue to recommend universal masking in child care citing "outbreaks" and that they are waiting on updated guidance from the CDC and MSDE.

I don’t understand what further guidance they are waiting for from CDC and MSDE. And what “outbreaks”? Did anyone on the council press him on this?

I recommend you watch the exchange yourself. I don't know any more than what they said. https://youtu.be/VijJRjdVo3E

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

I don't know where it is written but if you watch last Tuesday's AM County Council session around the 1 hour and 49 minute mark Dr. Bridgers confirms they continue to recommend universal masking in child care citing "outbreaks" and that they are waiting on updated guidance from the CDC and MSDE.

I don’t understand what further guidance they are waiting for from CDC and MSDE. And what “outbreaks”? Did anyone on the council press him on this?

Bridgers is a psychologist. The DHHS chief health officer is also a psychologist. They are clowns. I have a Ph.D. in psychology so they should give me one of their positions. I would make better decisions and communicate them more clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait where do they still recommend masking for daycares/preschools?

I can’t find it, but our daycare keeps saying that’s the guidance they are receiving from MoCo Public Health. Considering that’s not even a name of an agency, I’m at a loss.

Thanks in advance. Was really hoping today’s decision applied to all kids, especially those under 5.

I don't know where it is written but if you watch last Tuesday's AM County Council session around the 1 hour and 49 minute mark Dr. Bridgers confirms they continue to recommend universal masking in child care citing "outbreaks" and that they are waiting on updated guidance from the CDC and MSDE.

I don’t understand what further guidance they are waiting for from CDC and MSDE. And what “outbreaks”? Did anyone on the council press him on this?

My understanding is that outbreaks are three or more cases in a two week period in a center. This can trigger an investigation and closing the entire center. I think providers are scared.