APS mask policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything seems normal at my kids' schools. Also did you guys see the NYT piece that seemingly concludes that all the COVID mitigation measures may have had very little impact? Comparing outcomes in mega-masking/lifestyle limiting states compared to those that went back to normal sooner.

Did Omicron spread less in the parts of the U.S. where social distancing and masking were more common?

The answer is surprisingly unclear.

Nationwide, the number of official Covid cases has recently been somewhat higher in heavily Democratic areas than Republican areas, according to The Times’s data. That comparison doesn’t fully answer the question, though, because Democratic areas were also conducting more tests, and the percentage of positive tests tended to be somewhat higher in Republican areas.

No single statistic offers a definitive answer. When I look at all the evidence, I emerge thinking that liberal areas probably had slightly lower Omicron infection rates than conservative areas. But it is difficult to be sure, as these state-level charts — by my colleague Ashley Wu — suggest.
The lack of a clear pattern is itself striking. Remember, not only have Democratic voters been avoiding restaurants and wearing masks; they are also much more likely to be vaccinated and boosted (and vaccines substantially reduce the chances of infection). Combined, these factors seem as if they should have caused large differences in case rates.

They have not. And that they haven’t offers some clarity about the relative effectiveness of different Covid interventions.

I would be interested in a link. I can't find the article.

I have wondered all along if this would prove to be true. It's very human-like to think we can control the outcomes of everything.

Not to "well, actually" you, but, well, actually:

The CDC released a study yesterday showing that in Arkansas, the schools that had a mask requirement had a 23% lower infection than other Arkansas schools that had no masking requirement. Which is a significant difference, contrary to what PP indicates above. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7110e1.htm?s_cid=mm7110e1_x

During August–October 2021, public school districts in Arkansas with full or partial mask requirements had lower incidences of COVID-19 among students and staff members than did districts without mask requirements. Strengths of this investigation include the use of multiple analyses, and sensitivity analyses, with the protective effect of mask use holding across all analyses, including within districts that switched from no mask policy to any mask policy during the investigation period. Universal mask use, in coordination with other prevention strategies such as vaccination of students and staff members in K–12 schools, remains an important tool for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.[google]

Seems like masks actually do help prevent transmission in schools, and that contrary to what folks here have been saying, states down south which did not have mask requirements earlier in the pandemic actually did feel the results of their policies in their student and teacher infection numbers. But go off on how they're not an effective tool for containing the virus, that's fine.

NP, my response is....what else are we trading off for the 23 percent lower infection rate? And what are the absolute numbers? What if cases are already low and so 23 percent reduction doesn't mean all that much absolute numbers wise? What was the impact on the community of the higher infection rate? Is it a highly vaccinated community and what are hospitals like? Clearly different answers for Arkansas and Arlington VA.

In the current environment with adults able to be vaccinated and boosted and hospitals able to handle caseloads, studies like this don't make me think kids should keep masking at this point in time in our region. I realize for some of you the only goal is zero covid or lowest covid possible and anything to get there is worth it. Some of us are looking at a lot of factors when having an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

[Anonymous]

Nevermind the brain shrinkage! I don't use that 2% of my brain and neither should you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

So because this variant might be coming for us, we shouldn't unmask now?

I don't think many people think never mind about long covid or their hearts or whatever else you will come up with. NY Times reported on the brain stuff so we all know to worry about that know. People are just evaluating risk different than you and making different decisions. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

+1 We have unmasked now, but if another variant causes cases to rise again, we will mask again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

I'm responding with extreme sarcasm to the poster who says anyone still wearing masks at this point must want absolute zero covid and all sacrifices must be made to get there. If you can't see that staying masked in the face of the multiple risks that covid brings is a reasonable course of action not deserving of any sort of derision or gaslighting, then I guess you just don't see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

I would be willing to unmask right now if I didn’t have a super expensive international trip coming up for spring break. Not willing to have the whole family go down over the next four weeks when we’ve made it this far. You have no idea why people are still masking. i know my reason is purely selfish and privileged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

I'm responding with extreme sarcasm to the poster who says anyone still wearing masks at this point must want absolute zero covid and all sacrifices must be made to get there. If you can't see that staying masked in the face of the multiple risks that covid brings is a reasonable course of action not deserving of any sort of derision or gaslighting, then I guess you just don't see it.

Do you live in the metro DC area? If you won't unmask given the circumstances here at this point in time, when will you unmask? It's not unreasonable to suggest that if this isn't good enough than you're looking for zero covid or close to it.

[Anonymous]

And the beautiful smile nonsense is literally an argument against masks being made in a concurrent dcum thread https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1042457.page#top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

I would be willing to unmask right now if I didn’t have a super expensive international trip coming up for spring break. Not willing to have the whole family go down over the next four weeks when we’ve made it this far. You have no idea why people are still masking. i know my reason is purely selfish and privileged.

Guess you haven't seen the research that masks don't work (except when perfectly put on a mannequin in a labratory - they don't in real life setting with real life humans).

[Anonymous]

People are talking about being vaxxed and boosted as though they are at maximum protection. Most adults in this area got their boosters in November and December of 2021, which means you are quickly approaching 3 months out where booster effectiveness shrinks down to about 50%. So you shouldn't die, but you're probably not as protected as your vaccine card is making you think you are.

Kids should have a little more time -- mine were boostered in early January, which gives us through early April -- just in time for Spring Break and all the travelers coming back from Spring Break.

My kids are in middle and high school and report that masks haven't been that terrible. According to them, it's not that hard to wear them, and they feel like they are helping others by doing so and for now, for them, it's an easy choice.

I don't anticipate wearing masks forever, but I just don't understand the extreme upset over a safety precaution that is actually saving lives in the face of a disease that is still not completely understood. The large number of people here who are just not concerned with the increasing number of risk factors resulting from even mild cases of this disease (2% of your brains guys, but okay) is a mystery to me, and yet you are explaining demasking as totally "reasonable." Meanwhile you criticize people like me for not being in touch with reality and having too cautious of an approach.

My parents grew up as the children of coal miners in the 1930s and underwent all manner of deprivation during the war in the 1940s. Knowing their stories, I look at this attitude of some people towards masks as some sort of terrible impediment rather than an amazing safety tool (23% fewer infections!) and I do not understand the anger at masks. Younger children who need to see lips to learn reading and special needs children I can understand. But the average middle or high schooler, let alone adults, I do not understand your risk calibrations for yourselves and others in your community, though I recognize you are free to make those choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, you've shown that masks actually prevent the spread of covid, but that doesn't mean we should mask HERE. It's totally okay to spread Covid HERE.

Nevermind about long covid. Nevermind that even mild cases of covid cause elevated heart risk issues in 3% above what's normal of the population post infection. Nevermind about this B2 variant that spreads more quickly and is more dangerous that B1 Omicron and is causing concern in other countries. If you're not okay with getting or spreading a little bit of covid at this point, your only goal must be zero covid or lowest covid possible and any sacrifices to get there must be worth it. Like some of us have other considerations besides physical health in mind when having an opinion. Such as, from earlier comments in this and other threads: Lipstick. Seeing people's beautiful smiles.

Right.

Covid spread is quite low here right now. If you aren't unwilling to unmask now, you're never going to be willing to unmask. One reasonable course of action is to unmask when cases are low and re-evaluate as you go along. If the B2 variant is coming for us, well I'll be glad I got a masking break and I'll put my mask back on.

The snark about it only being about lipstick and smiles is lame. If you can't see why humans don't want to wear masks all the time, then you don't see it. And if you can't see why it might not be great for kids to grow up for years on end wearing masks, then you don't see it.

I would be willing to unmask right now if I didn’t have a super expensive international trip coming up for spring break. Not willing to have the whole family go down over the next four weeks when we’ve made it this far. You have no idea why people are still masking. i know my reason is purely selfish and privileged.

Guess you haven't seen the research that masks don't work (except when perfectly put on a mannequin in a labratory - they don't in real life setting with real life humans).

Guess you didn't read the study posted a page ago showing that in Arkansas schools that had a masking policy experienced 23% fewer infections than schools that did not require masks. To science-y for you, probably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are talking about being vaxxed and boosted as though they are at maximum protection. Most adults in this area got their boosters in November and December of 2021, which means you are quickly approaching 3 months out where booster effectiveness shrinks down to about 50%. So you shouldn't die, but you're probably not as protected as your vaccine card is making you think you are.

Kids should have a little more time -- mine were boostered in early January, which gives us through early April -- just in time for Spring Break and all the travelers coming back from Spring Break.

My kids are in middle and high school and report that masks haven't been that terrible. According to them, it's not that hard to wear them, and they feel like they are helping others by doing so and for now, for them, it's an easy choice.

I don't anticipate wearing masks forever, but I just don't understand the extreme upset over a safety precaution that is actually saving lives in the face of a disease that is still not completely understood. The large number of people here who are just not concerned with the increasing number of risk factors resulting from even mild cases of this disease (2% of your brains guys, but okay) is a mystery to me, and yet you are explaining demasking as totally "reasonable." Meanwhile you criticize people like me for not being in touch with reality and having too cautious of an approach.

My parents grew up as the children of coal miners in the 1930s and underwent all manner of deprivation during the war in the 1940s. Knowing their stories, I look at this attitude of some people towards masks as some sort of terrible impediment rather than an amazing safety tool (23% fewer infections!) and I do not understand the anger at masks. Younger children who need to see lips to learn reading and special needs children I can understand. But the average middle or high schooler, let alone adults, I do not understand your risk calibrations for yourselves and others in your community, though I recognize you are free to make those choices.

You're intent to not get covid. So when will you unmask? For many of us, we don't want to get covid either. But that is no longer the top priority in our lives affecting every decision. One decision point in life is masking. For people where masking is genuinely no big deal, great! Wear them even when community spread is low just in case to ensure you never get covid. A lot of kids, tweens, teens, and adults don't feel that way. My younger son wears glasses and hates the mask and always has. My tween doesn't mind wearing one at school too much but would like to take breaks while at school and wants to have friends over to the house and unmask and have normal interactions.

I think framing it as a generic..."saving lives" also makes it difficult to know when you will ever take your masks off especially if you live in an area with good medial care, high vaccination rates, etc. As long as covid exists on this planet, you're saving lives, right? So it would seem you will be wearing masks for a good long while. Which if you don't mind wearing them, no big deal I guess.

So like you, I don't quite understand your position but I also strongly believe we are at a point where it should be optional and everyone should do what feels right for them. So I think we are where we need to be and we all just need to allow each other to do what feels right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are talking about being vaxxed and boosted as though they are at maximum protection. Most adults in this area got their boosters in November and December of 2021, which means you are quickly approaching 3 months out where booster effectiveness shrinks down to about 50%. So you shouldn't die, but you're probably not as protected as your vaccine card is making you think you are.

Kids should have a little more time -- mine were boostered in early January, which gives us through early April -- just in time for Spring Break and all the travelers coming back from Spring Break.

My kids are in middle and high school and report that masks haven't been that terrible. According to them, it's not that hard to wear them, and they feel like they are helping others by doing so and for now, for them, it's an easy choice.

I don't anticipate wearing masks forever, but I just don't understand the extreme upset over a safety precaution that is actually saving lives in the face of a disease that is still not completely understood. The large number of people here who are just not concerned with the increasing number of risk factors resulting from even mild cases of this disease (2% of your brains guys, but okay) is a mystery to me, and yet you are explaining demasking as totally "reasonable." Meanwhile you criticize people like me for not being in touch with reality and having too cautious of an approach.

My parents grew up as the children of coal miners in the 1930s and underwent all manner of deprivation during the war in the 1940s. Knowing their stories, I look at this attitude of some people towards masks as some sort of terrible impediment rather than an amazing safety tool (23% fewer infections!) and I do not understand the anger at masks. Younger children who need to see lips to learn reading and special needs children I can understand. But the average middle or high schooler, let alone adults, I do not understand your risk calibrations for yourselves and others in your community, though I recognize you are free to make those choices.

People no longer think they're avoiding covid entirely. People think they're maybe going to get it and if they do they'll be ok. They think this because this is what has happened to people all around them. Lot of people got Omicron and the bogey man kind of came out of the closet and didn't look so scary anymore.

The brain thing. It's such a classic covid scare tactic. Vague and scary. What that even mean 2 percent of your brain in terms of actual impact to anyone's life. I know a lot of people who have had covid. They're all 2 percent dumber?

My final thought is I don't feel angry at all at masks. I don't feel extremely upset. But when I didn't have to wear them anymore, I thought about it and took the option. That's it. I'll wear one again when there is another spike.