Masks optional by spring break

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Ok. Fine, make masks optional for young children. What are the real downsides or harms caused by teenagers wearing masks in school?

Thank you for grudgingly agreeing to consider the needs of children with special needs. How incredible generous of you.

What are the downsides for teenagers? Why don't you ask them? Instead of assuming everyone will be happy to cover their noses and mouths all day just to make you FEEL better.

You are the one talking about science. I agree that when community spread is low, we should consider making masks optional for the youngest learners. I have three teenagers and they do not object to wearing masks at school. It doesn't bother them. I am asking you what the science says about harm to teenagers caused by wearing masks at school? I have seen nothing on that.

The science says it doesn't play a major role in preventing the spread of COVID.

[Anonymous]

Also, masks make it hard to hear other people. In an educational setting, yes that is a downside. Do you want a study to show people don't hear as well when they have masks on? Let's also do a study on whether the sky is blue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Cloth masks still reduce over 50% compared to no masks. Most kids in the school are NOT wearing cloth masks now. The science says 1 million people are dead, mainly unvaccinated, or those vaccianted with multiple comorbidites. Protecting the old and vulnerable is admirable in a society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Last spring everyone was terrified about returning to in person school and sure that everyone would quit and it was FINE. Doing something different is stressful. Being irrationally afraid is not ok forever.

this is not being irrationally afraid. 1 million dead. omicron changed the game vs last spring but correct masking can't be done forever. just saying the teachers' RATIONAL fear can't be dismissed outright

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Last spring everyone was terrified about returning to in person school and sure that everyone would quit and it was FINE. Doing something different is stressful. Being irrationally afraid is not ok forever.

this is not being irrationally afraid. 1 million dead. omicron changed the game vs last spring but correct masking can't be done forever. just saying the teachers' RATIONAL fear can't be dismissed outright

I want to add - now would be the time to make them optional before the next surge/variant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Cloth masks still reduce over 50% compared to no masks. Most kids in the school are NOT wearing cloth masks now. The science says 1 million people are dead, mainly unvaccinated, or those vaccianted with multiple comorbidites. Protecting the old and vulnerable is admirable in a society.

You're citing lab studies, not studies done in the real world based on real usage of masks which includes a lot of very ill-fitting masks, maskless lunches and many, many masks worn under noses. Citing that 50% number is unbelievably unscientific and anyone that does so loses all credibility. This is what Michael Osterholm, one of the foremost infectious disease experts working on COVID right now, says about masking:

We are well past the emergency phase of this pandemic, and it should be well-known by now that wearing cloth face coverings or surgical masks, universal or otherwise, has a very minor role to play in preventing person-to-person transmission. It is time to stop overselling their efficacy and unrealistic expectations about their ability to end the pandemic.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/10/commentary-what-can-masks-do-part-2-what-makes-good-mask-study-and-why-most

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Cloth masks still reduce over 50% compared to no masks. Most kids in the school are NOT wearing cloth masks now. The science says 1 million people are dead, mainly unvaccinated, or those vaccianted with multiple comorbidites. Protecting the old and vulnerable is admirable in a society.

You're citing lab studies, not studies done in the real world based on real usage of masks which includes a lot of very ill-fitting masks, maskless lunches and many, many masks worn under noses. Citing that 50% number is unbelievably unscientific and anyone that does so loses all credibility. This is what Michael Osterholm, one of the foremost infectious disease experts working on COVID right now, says about masking:

We are well past the emergency phase of this pandemic, and it should be well-known by now that wearing cloth face coverings or surgical masks, universal or otherwise, has a very minor role to play in preventing person-to-person transmission. It is time to stop overselling their efficacy and unrealistic expectations about their ability to end the pandemic.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/10/commentary-what-can-masks-do-part-2-what-makes-good-mask-study-and-why-most

LOL it was a real world study https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7107a4.htm?s_cid=mm7107a4_w

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this hand-wringing over going mask optional would be hilarious if it wasn't so tiresome. I just returned from a walk in a DC neighborhood; the number of people walking ALONE who are wearing masks on this lovely afternoon is astounding.

Sincerely, I must ask: Don't you feel like a fool when you do this?

Not at all. Everyone else in my neighborhood is wearing a mask. It makes it easier to laugh in the face of fools like you.

DP, who lives in a neighborhood with lots of folks who work at NIH and FDA or other government science agencies, myself included. Typically, we're the ones not wearing masks outside. But, we're the fools, the ones who are more familiar with the science and with public health than most individuals? Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this hand-wringing over going mask optional would be hilarious if it wasn't so tiresome. I just returned from a walk in a DC neighborhood; the number of people walking ALONE who are wearing masks on this lovely afternoon is astounding.

Sincerely, I must ask: Don't you feel like a fool when you do this?

Not at all. Everyone else in my neighborhood is wearing a mask. It makes it easier to laugh in the face of fools like you.

DP, who lives in a neighborhood with lots of folks who work at NIH and FDA or other government science agencies, myself included. Typically, we're the ones not wearing masks outside. But, we're the fools, the ones who are more familiar with the science and with public health than most individuals? Got it.

+1

We are a physician and scientist couple. Even in 2020, we never wore masks outside. Now that we’re vaccinated, we don’t wear masks indoors either, unless required. I’d like our children to go to school without masks. They are very low risk, even unvaccinated. The vulnerable can use extra protection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All this hand-wringing over going mask optional would be hilarious if it wasn't so tiresome. I just returned from a walk in a DC neighborhood; the number of people walking ALONE who are wearing masks on this lovely afternoon is astounding.

Sincerely, I must ask: Don't you feel like a fool when you do this?

Not at all. Everyone else in my neighborhood is wearing a mask. It makes it easier to laugh in the face of fools like you.

DP, who lives in a neighborhood with lots of folks who work at NIH and FDA or other government science agencies, myself included. Typically, we're the ones not wearing masks outside. But, we're the fools, the ones who are more familiar with the science and with public health than most individuals? Got it.

+1

We are a physician and scientist couple. Even in 2020, we never wore masks outside. Now that we’re vaccinated, we don’t wear masks indoors either, unless required. I’d like our children to go to school without masks. They are very low risk, even unvaccinated. The vulnerable can use extra protection.

PP you're quoting, and I agree with everything else you said. My fellow scientist colleagues are the same (which I know from socializing with them). We really need a more nuanced approach to COVID prevention than we've had over the last two years. This all or nothing strategy is neither sustainable nor necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Cloth masks still reduce over 50% compared to no masks. Most kids in the school are NOT wearing cloth masks now. The science says 1 million people are dead, mainly unvaccinated, or those vaccianted with multiple comorbidites. Protecting the old and vulnerable is admirable in a society.

You're citing lab studies, not studies done in the real world based on real usage of masks which includes a lot of very ill-fitting masks, maskless lunches and many, many masks worn under noses. Citing that 50% number is unbelievably unscientific and anyone that does so loses all credibility. This is what Michael Osterholm, one of the foremost infectious disease experts working on COVID right now, says about masking:

We are well past the emergency phase of this pandemic, and it should be well-known by now that wearing cloth face coverings or surgical masks, universal or otherwise, has a very minor role to play in preventing person-to-person transmission. It is time to stop overselling their efficacy and unrealistic expectations about their ability to end the pandemic.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/10/commentary-what-can-masks-do-part-2-what-makes-good-mask-study-and-why-most

LOL it was a real world study https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7107a4.htm?s_cid=mm7107a4_w

Oh my gosh, this study is awful. Do you get that people who wear masks are likely to behave differently in other ways than people who do not. Honestly, this is embarrassing for the CDC.

[Anonymous]

"Finally, this analysis does not account for potential differences in the intensity of exposures, which could vary by duration, ventilation system, and activity in each of the various indoor public settings visited."

No sh&t

The people going into stores unmasked are also gathering with their friends, going to restaurants, etc. Not all indoor exposures are created equal and this study treats them as though they are exactly the same. And then they make that ridiculous bar chart. I can't believe anybody would take this study seriously and that speaks volumes as to what is wrong with the CDC and why nobody trusts them.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm

[Anonymous]

Like did these people not study statistics? Just like, a basic statistics class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Ok. Fine, make masks optional for young children. What are the real downsides or harms caused by teenagers wearing masks in school?

Thank you for grudgingly agreeing to consider the needs of children with special needs. How incredible generous of you.

What are the downsides for teenagers? Why don't you ask them? Instead of assuming everyone will be happy to cover their noses and mouths all day just to make you FEEL better.

You are the one talking about science. I agree that when community spread is low, we should consider making masks optional for the youngest learners. I have three teenagers and they do not object to wearing masks at school. It doesn't bother them. I am asking you what the science says about harm to teenagers caused by wearing masks at school? I have seen nothing on that.

The science says it doesn't play a major role in preventing the spread of COVID.

I know that's why people at hospitals don't wear masks right? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrolled through as many pages as I could tolerate, and I don't think I saw a comment showing any empathy for the teachers and their family who are in older higher risk groups.

I've spoken to a lot of teachers at publics, daycares, and privates and anecdotally I'd say half are terrified of mask removal. This can't be dismissed.

We've been making school policy based entirely on the feelings of a small segment of the population that is either genuinely high risk or suffers from health anxiety (sometimes a combination). The problem is that there are real downsides to masking (especially the youngest children and those with speech delays and social anxiety). So we need to start making policy based on science, and the science (and I'm talking about randomized studies taking place in the real world, not lab experiments) and the experts are clearly saying that cloth masks do not play a large role in preventing the transmission of COVID.

Ok. Fine, make masks optional for young children. What are the real downsides or harms caused by teenagers wearing masks in school?

Thank you for grudgingly agreeing to consider the needs of children with special needs. How incredible generous of you.

What are the downsides for teenagers? Why don't you ask them? Instead of assuming everyone will be happy to cover their noses and mouths all day just to make you FEEL better.

You are the one talking about science. I agree that when community spread is low, we should consider making masks optional for the youngest learners. I have three teenagers and they do not object to wearing masks at school. It doesn't bother them. I am asking you what the science says about harm to teenagers caused by wearing masks at school? I have seen nothing on that.

The science says it doesn't play a major role in preventing the spread of COVID.

I know that's why people at hospitals don't wear masks right? LOL

They wear N95 respirators you stupid POS