APS mask policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Some of us are not anti-maskers. (But you're not shaming anyone right?)

I have worn my freaking mask like a good solider to the cause and so have my kids. But it's time to be done. That doesn't make us anti-maskers. Why would masks even be recommended when cases are that low? Why are we even looking at cases anymore? That is not the metric anyone should be looking at.

And sorry an asterisk next to required that says parents may opt-out when cases are at 10/100,000 is an absurd position at this point in the pandemic.

Why isn't the burden on all of you to wear masks forever if you feel like it? The default should not be wear masks forever or opt out if you really want to with a tiny asterisk.

What? You can opt your kid out at any community transmission level. Thats not good enough for you? Panties in a wad over an asterisk? You people are insufferable.

So the point is unmasking should not be the asterisk. People who want to keep masking for the rest of their children’s lives, which is literally what this chart recommends should happen, they should be the asterisk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

I actually believe people will finally really not go along with this. I expect by spring widespread opting out. It will become normalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Some of us are not anti-maskers. (But you're not shaming anyone right?)

I have worn my freaking mask like a good solider to the cause and so have my kids. But it's time to be done. That doesn't make us anti-maskers. Why would masks even be recommended when cases are that low? Why are we even looking at cases anymore? That is not the metric anyone should be looking at.

And sorry an asterisk next to required that says parents may opt-out when cases are at 10/100,000 is an absurd position at this point in the pandemic.

Why isn't the burden on all of you to wear masks forever if you feel like it? The default should not be wear masks forever or opt out if you really want to with a tiny asterisk.

What? You can opt your kid out at any community transmission level. Thats not good enough for you? Panties in a wad over an asterisk? You people are insufferable.

So the point is unmasking should not be the asterisk. People who want to keep masking for the rest of their children’s lives, which is literally what this chart recommends should happen, they should be the asterisk.

Not from a public health perspective. We're still in a pandemic as much as you don't want to believe it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

No, it’s APS continuing to follow the CDC guidelines. Which is a reasonable thing to do.

When the CDC adjusts guidelines - likely very soon - then APS will adjust accordingly.

APS doesn’t define public health guidelines, they follow them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Some of us are not anti-maskers. (But you're not shaming anyone right?)

I have worn my freaking mask like a good solider to the cause and so have my kids. But it's time to be done. That doesn't make us anti-maskers. Why would masks even be recommended when cases are that low? Why are we even looking at cases anymore? That is not the metric anyone should be looking at.

And sorry an asterisk next to required that says parents may opt-out when cases are at 10/100,000 is an absurd position at this point in the pandemic.

Why isn't the burden on all of you to wear masks forever if you feel like it? The default should not be wear masks forever or opt out if you really want to with a tiny asterisk.

What part of the chat do you think is unreasonable? That everyone should mask when covid transmission rates are high? That masks are recommended but not required for vaccinated people when transmission levels are moderate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

No, it’s APS continuing to follow the CDC guidelines. Which is a reasonable thing to do.

When the CDC adjusts guidelines - likely very soon - then APS will adjust accordingly.

APS doesn’t define public health guidelines, they follow them.

CDC plans to continue recommending universal masking in schools. Literally no one will follow that soon.

Their guidelines for the general population will change, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

Under this system, masks are only required by APS when transmission levels are substantial to high. When they are moderate, vaccinated people are recommended but not required to mask, and when we are in low transmission, APS does not care if vaccinated people mask at all. If you’re unvaccinated, low transmission means masks as only recommended but not required. So how does this policy translate into APS making students mask forever in your mind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

No, it’s APS continuing to follow the CDC guidelines. Which is a reasonable thing to do.

When the CDC adjusts guidelines - likely very soon - then APS will adjust accordingly.

APS doesn’t define public health guidelines, they follow them.

CDC plans to continue recommending universal masking in schools. Literally no one will follow that soon.

Their guidelines for the general population will change, though.

Citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

No, it’s APS continuing to follow the CDC guidelines. Which is a reasonable thing to do.

When the CDC adjusts guidelines - likely very soon - then APS will adjust accordingly.

APS doesn’t define public health guidelines, they follow them.

CDC plans to continue recommending universal masking in schools. Literally no one will follow that soon.

Their guidelines for the general population will change, though.

Citation?

I do think they're planning on changing transmission guidance, and hopefully that will change what constitutes Low, Moderate, Substantial, High. A community spread metric that takes into account vaccination rates and hospital capacity, as well as case counts could be pretty effective. If it's nuanced... ie An area that has over 70% vaccinated and ample hospital space could keep masks optional until cases it 500 per 100K, vs an area that has 40% vaccinated and low hospital space should mask at 50 per 100K. Not that it would matter since the only states that will even follow this logic would be those that are highly vaccinated, but it would give localities and schools a more valid way to implement mask mandates.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-masks-cdc-expected-update-mask-guidance-early-week-rcna16331

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

Under this system, masks are only required by APS when transmission levels are substantial to high. When they are moderate, vaccinated people are recommended but not required to mask, and when we are in low transmission, APS does not care if vaccinated people mask at all. If you’re unvaccinated, low transmission means masks as only recommended but not required. So how does this policy translate into APS making students mask forever in your mind?

Because APS will only be low or moderate in the summer when there is no school. Look at this past year's data. Moderate is unattainable and definitely unsustainable. Masks forever is what APS wants. Don't let it happen to your child.

The law is on your side to unmask March 1. Don't wait for metrics that won't be reached. And APS knows it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

No, it’s APS continuing to follow the CDC guidelines. Which is a reasonable thing to do.

When the CDC adjusts guidelines - likely very soon - then APS will adjust accordingly.

APS doesn’t define public health guidelines, they follow them.

CDC plans to continue recommending universal masking in schools. Literally no one will follow that soon.

Their guidelines for the general population will change, though.

Citation?

Walensky made no such commitment to a timetable for abolishing school mask mandates. She acknowledged the "limitations" of the Arizona study, as well as other studies the CDC has relied upon to inform their guidance, but rejected any near-term changes on masking in schools.


"They all have limitations, and that's important to recognize because we are not randomizing schools," she said. "We have to control for whether there are windows, ventilation, and other activities happening outside of these schools. So all of these studies have limitations. But they are for the most part uniformly pointing to that when there's a lot of disease out there, the masks are preventing that disease and preventing that transmission and because of that we are able to keep our schools open."

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

They need to rethink how they are looking at the metrics. If we continue to look at case numbers, we will never take off the masks. In Arlington, we've been "low" for only one month in the last year. Vaccines are widely available, we need to start looking at hospital impact not case count. For vaccinated, this is risk at the same level as the flu, if not lower for kids.

So this is APS saying children will mask forever in school.

Under this system, masks are only required by APS when transmission levels are substantial to high. When they are moderate, vaccinated people are recommended but not required to mask, and when we are in low transmission, APS does not care if vaccinated people mask at all. If you’re unvaccinated, low transmission means masks as only recommended but not required. So how does this policy translate into APS making students mask forever in your mind?

Because APS will only be low or moderate in the summer when there is no school. Look at this past year's data. Moderate is unattainable and definitely unsustainable. Masks forever is what APS wants. Don't let it happen to your child.

The law is on your side to unmask March 1. Don't wait for metrics that won't be reached. And APS knows it!

Moderate is 49 or below cases. We are well on our way to that. What does it matter anyhow, you can literally opt out.

[Anonymous]

APS ending mask mandate March 1st.

https://wtop.com/arlington/2022/02/arlington-co-schools-to-end-student-mask-requirement-march-1/?fbclid=IwAR0Dp_D-Hx77kWtOU8fTjKekhTN8yNZaYgksEl8yIgkKHtmJmezyvfbQ5w0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS ending mask mandate March 1st.

https://wtop.com/arlington/2022/02/arlington-co-schools-to-end-student-mask-requirement-march-1/?fbclid=IwAR0Dp_D-Hx77kWtOU8fTjKekhTN8yNZaYgksEl8yIgkKHtmJmezyvfbQ5w0

The screenshot posted all over this thread is from the presentation mentioned on the WTOP article. They are still recommending/requiring unless the parent opts out. It’s not like the kids can just go and decide for themselves to strip off the mask.