Reply to MoCo childcare COVID policies forum

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here's a sample email to county leadership that outlines the problems with the January 25 guidance: (https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/Resources/Files/quarantine/I-Q-guidance.pdf)

The January 25 version of the K-12 and childcare isolation and quarantine guidance introduces a host of new problems.

Considering tomorrow's childcare town hall (which conflicts with a provider discussion with the state on their isolation and quarantine guidance!), the best solution would be for DHHS to nullify its January 25 guidance and swiftly ratify the state's January guidance.

First, it must be said that all of this confusion, drama, and ongoing anxiety for parents and providers is caused by the fact that the MoCo guidance differs from the state's. Why is this? What data does DHHS have that justifies discriminating between children over and under 5 and making other unnecessary departures from MD guidance? In addition:

1. On page 3, for persons under 5, it still says at the top: "Day 1-10: Stay home." This will perpetuate providers' confusion about whether or not a 5-day quarantine is permitted for this age group.

2. The final FAQ is extremely problematic. Its first sentence either contains a typo or a deliberate contradiction with the earlier guidance by stating: "It is our guidance that children under 5 who are EXPOSED to COVID-19 remain in isolation for the full 10 days." Page 3 states that children under 5 may return from post-exposure quarantine after 5 days under certain conditions.

2 (cont'd). Same FAQ says: "Children under 5 are developmentally less able to consistently wear masks around others or socially distance during unmasked activities." There is no need for this additional editorializing by DHHS. MD's guidance includes the simple acknowledgement that children must eat and sleep and that unmasked time should be minimized and physical distancing/ventilation maximized. If DHHS doesn't think our kids can mask effectively, let's have the conversation about making their masking optional.

3. Page 4: Why - again, in contravention of state policy - does DHHS permit an exemption from quarantine for people who were recently infected only if they are vaccinated? What science supports this?

Parents are utterly exhausted by this. Please help us understand why DHHS is imposing these deviations from state guidance that are making our lives extremely challenging.[/quote].

Wow. The January 25 memo is completely different than the January 16 memo, the latter of which followed state guidelines. It even had an exception to masking for meals and naps whereas this one explicitly says children under 5 cannot consistently mask because of meals and naps! WTF is wrong with DHHS?[/quote]

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