Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An APS parent and doctor on masks. Start speaking up, people! It’s insane to me that the school board just assumes the community wants mandatory masking. That might be true for right now but they should be surveying before they make these assertions.

https://time.com/6145291/end-mandatory-masks-schools/

Oh a non-practicing INTERNIST with medical degree from Missourah.

https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_500ec634-156c-11ec-a883-fbd7a2e2a3b9.html

THIS. I'm sorry, but I'll defer to actual experts, not an internist who no longer practices. I've seen her posting on MONA too and pushing her agenda hard. I'm tired of it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out their trotting out their "I'm a doctor" badge as if that automatically makes them the authority on all things pandemic. It doesn't.

Yeah but which experts? Keep in mind if you’re waiting for the CDC to drop its guidance, these are the people who think that all steaks should be well done and eggs sunny side up should be illegal. Smart people are just waking up to the fact that the mask guidance is there out of bureaucratic inertia and not out of any rigorous cost benefit analysis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An APS parent and doctor on masks. Start speaking up, people! It’s insane to me that the school board just assumes the community wants mandatory masking. That might be true for right now but they should be surveying before they make these assertions.

https://time.com/6145291/end-mandatory-masks-schools/

Oh a non-practicing INTERNIST with medical degree from Missourah.

https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_500ec634-156c-11ec-a883-fbd7a2e2a3b9.html

THIS. I'm sorry, but I'll defer to actual experts, not an internist who no longer practices. I've seen her posting on MONA too and pushing her agenda hard. I'm tired of it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out their trotting out their "I'm a doctor" badge as if that automatically makes them the authority on all things pandemic. It doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An APS parent and doctor on masks. Start speaking up, people! It’s insane to me that the school board just assumes the community wants mandatory masking. That might be true for right now but they should be surveying before they make these assertions.

https://time.com/6145291/end-mandatory-masks-schools/

Oh a non-practicing INTERNIST with medical degree from Missourah.

https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_500ec634-156c-11ec-a883-fbd7a2e2a3b9.html

THIS. I'm sorry, but I'll defer to actual experts, not an internist who no longer practices. I've seen her posting on MONA too and pushing her agenda hard. I'm tired of it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out their trotting out their "I'm a doctor" badge as if that automatically makes them the authority on all things pandemic. It doesn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An APS parent and doctor on masks. Start speaking up, people! It’s insane to me that the school board just assumes the community wants mandatory masking. That might be true for right now but they should be surveying before they make these assertions.

https://time.com/6145291/end-mandatory-masks-schools/

Oh a non-practicing INTERNIST with medical degree from Missourah.

https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_500ec634-156c-11ec-a883-fbd7a2e2a3b9.html

Anonymous wrote:PPs are correct there is relatively little spread IN schools. Anyone weighing in on the question of why that is should look at these graphs. No, these aren't randomized control studies but they make a very simple point: spread is the same in schools with mask mandates OR with mask optional.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKK1FcxVUAQlVpH?format=jpg&name=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDnYiffXIAkiR0y?format=jpg&name=medium

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So what happens when Covid is endemic and cases start to rise again during cold and flu season next school year. Mask mandate again from Oct through March?

Maybe? None of us can foresee life ten months from now. Is it possible that we'll become a society that masks up for periods of time here and there? Maybe it remains optional but you'll always have one in your pocket because some businesses may require it during times of surge, people wear them more on mass transit or rather than shutting a school down due to an uptick in cases the school says "ok, everyone mask up for the next month". Who knows? Is that the end of the world for you?

Or maybe they'll be gone for good because it's truly endemic, antiviral treatments abound and masks aren't necessary. That would be great, I'd like to think that's where we'll be, but the last two years have taught me to manage expectations.

But don't you get it? The majority of parents are not going to go for mandatory masking in schools for years on end. People will vote on this one particular issue and swing VA back to red.

You seem fixated on "for years on end".

Look at the positives - might help with your anxiety.
- vaccines and boosters are available for k-12 (weren't available at the start of school)
- numbers are coming down
- latest strain seems to have lower hospitalization rates (albeit more contagious)

Try to move on - this isn't healthy.

Lmfao I haven’t caved in to that experimental crap they call vaccine and I definitely do not muzzle myself. Or my kids. We have been living lavishly traveling abroad with fake covid documents. No way I’m taking something nobody is responsible for. Oh, but they’re laughing all they way to the bank. How’s that myocarditis going, bruh?

^^^^ I'm beginning to think the crazy PP above is actually an avid "pro-mask" supporter in disguise trying to promote the idea that parents who want to opt out of the mask mandate are nutso.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So what happens when Covid is endemic and cases start to rise again during cold and flu season next school year. Mask mandate again from Oct through March?

Maybe? None of us can foresee life ten months from now. Is it possible that we'll become a society that masks up for periods of time here and there? Maybe it remains optional but you'll always have one in your pocket because some businesses may require it during times of surge, people wear them more on mass transit or rather than shutting a school down due to an uptick in cases the school says "ok, everyone mask up for the next month". Who knows? Is that the end of the world for you?

Or maybe they'll be gone for good because it's truly endemic, antiviral treatments abound and masks aren't necessary. That would be great, I'd like to think that's where we'll be, but the last two years have taught me to manage expectations.

But don't you get it? The majority of parents are not going to go for mandatory masking in schools for years on end. People will vote on this one particular issue and swing VA back to red.

Yes, I get it. That's not what I want. But if I were king for a day standing here in early February would I definitively decree that masks go away on (pick any random date) and nevermore shall ever return to the Commonwealth? No. I hope numbers drop quickly and we can move to a place of masks optional by spring. I hope we won't ever have to have mandatory masking except maybe for small pockets of time if there is a large spike and hospitalizations increase tremendously. Can I confidently sit here and say what will happen? No, I can't.

Unfortunately, when Republicans are back in power in the VA legislature and local school boards, I do not think you will be getting your way on future mask mandates. I do not understand why Democrats can't see what is happening. It is a shame.

Stop fantasizing. NJ just announced an end date. NEW JERSEY. Virginia won’t be long behind. The Republicans can go back to frothing at the mouth over CRT.

As many posters have pointed out, local school boards will be able continuing requiring masks. And also, as the above poster pointed out, local school board could easily start requiring masks in future flu, rsv, and covid seasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So what happens when Covid is endemic and cases start to rise again during cold and flu season next school year. Mask mandate again from Oct through March?

Maybe? None of us can foresee life ten months from now. Is it possible that we'll become a society that masks up for periods of time here and there? Maybe it remains optional but you'll always have one in your pocket because some businesses may require it during times of surge, people wear them more on mass transit or rather than shutting a school down due to an uptick in cases the school says "ok, everyone mask up for the next month". Who knows? Is that the end of the world for you?

Or maybe they'll be gone for good because it's truly endemic, antiviral treatments abound and masks aren't necessary. That would be great, I'd like to think that's where we'll be, but the last two years have taught me to manage expectations.

But don't you get it? The majority of parents are not going to go for mandatory masking in schools for years on end. People will vote on this one particular issue and swing VA back to red.

Yes, I get it. That's not what I want. But if I were king for a day standing here in early February would I definitively decree that masks go away on (pick any random date) and nevermore shall ever return to the Commonwealth? No. I hope numbers drop quickly and we can move to a place of masks optional by spring. I hope we won't ever have to have mandatory masking except maybe for small pockets of time if there is a large spike and hospitalizations increase tremendously. Can I confidently sit here and say what will happen? No, I can't.

Unfortunately, when Republicans are back in power in the VA legislature and local school boards, I do not think you will be getting your way on future mask mandates. I do not understand why Democrats can't see what is happening. It is a shame.

Stop fantasizing. NJ just announced an end date. NEW JERSEY. Virginia won’t be long behind. The Republicans can go back to frothing at the mouth over CRT.

As many posters have pointed out, local school boards will be able continuing requiring masks. And also, as the above poster pointed out, local school board could easily start requiring masks in future flu, rsv, and covid seasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's coming. Numbers are coming down. CDC will probably change guidelines in the next month or two.

Do we really think the school board is going to make masks option even when the CDC changes guidelines? i think not.

I do think they will change mask policy as CDC changes guidelines.

If they don't, that is a legit time to speak up. Not shrieking about masks being child abuse during the middle of a surge.

+1. It's coming, we're not quite there. Get the positivity rate down and then make them optional. We had just started indoor playdates again this fall with kids getting vaccinated when Omicron hit and now we've masked back up. Tone deaf to shriek no masks when cases are still at some of the highest levels of the pandemic. Give it another month. I can totally see them being optional by spring break if numbers continue to fall, coupled with the little kids getting vaccinated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So what happens when Covid is endemic and cases start to rise again during cold and flu season next school year. Mask mandate again from Oct through March?

Maybe? None of us can foresee life ten months from now. Is it possible that we'll become a society that masks up for periods of time here and there? Maybe it remains optional but you'll always have one in your pocket because some businesses may require it during times of surge, people wear them more on mass transit or rather than shutting a school down due to an uptick in cases the school says "ok, everyone mask up for the next month". Who knows? Is that the end of the world for you?

Or maybe they'll be gone for good because it's truly endemic, antiviral treatments abound and masks aren't necessary. That would be great, I'd like to think that's where we'll be, but the last two years have taught me to manage expectations.

But don't you get it? The majority of parents are not going to go for mandatory masking in schools for years on end. People will vote on this one particular issue and swing VA back to red.

Yes, I get it. That's not what I want. But if I were king for a day standing here in early February would I definitively decree that masks go away on (pick any random date) and nevermore shall ever return to the Commonwealth? No. I hope numbers drop quickly and we can move to a place of masks optional by spring. I hope we won't ever have to have mandatory masking except maybe for small pockets of time if there is a large spike and hospitalizations increase tremendously. Can I confidently sit here and say what will happen? No, I can't.

Unfortunately, when Republicans are back in power in the VA legislature and local school boards, I do not think you will be getting your way on future mask mandates. I do not understand why Democrats can't see what is happening. It is a shame.

Stop fantasizing. NJ just announced an end date. NEW JERSEY. Virginia won’t be long behind. The Republicans can go back to frothing at the mouth over CRT.