It seems like there are so many comments on this post not because of the specifics of this case, but because various local governments (DC/MD) are making policy on masks for children not based on science, but based on liberal public perceptions of the risk of COVID. As per various epidemiologists and physicians in a recent WaPo editorial (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/26/its-time-children-finally-get-back-normal-life/):

"Overall, the risk to children is too low to justify the remaining restrictions they face. Somewhere between 0.1 and 1.9 percent of covid-19 infections in children result in hospitalizations — and that’s likely an overestimate given that recent studies suggest approximately 40 percent of pediatric covid-19 admissions were misclassified. The risk of a child developing MIS-C, a serious inflammatory condition with effective treatments, is less than 1 in 1,000. The virus has claimed the lives of nearly 400 children in 17 months, lower than the estimated deaths among children in recent influenza seasons."

Why are we forcing small children to wear masks based on a tiny - and growing even smaller - risk? DC is removing restrictions in all areas, restaurants etc., except for child care facilities. I'm guessing this is partially based on input from daycare directors/providers, who have nothing to loose from kids continuing to wear masks. How can parents who think the same way on this band together and make our voices known to the DC government? Are there any coalitions or petitions out there that we can join onto? The lack of any local press on this issue is annoying. Parents of small children in DC are a forgotten constituency.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

Everyone needs to be contacting the CDC to complain about this.

Agreed. That’s how you can make changes.

Also I wouldn't discount reaching out to the local and state health officials as well. I wish the CDC had gone with the WHO recommendation of 5+ because once they started with 2yos it became widely adopted (in this area at least) and difficult to unwind. They should have started with 5 and looked at spread amongst the younger set to see if it was an issue and then re-evaluate.

Good luck getting *anyone* to respond.

The problem is that CDC creates guidance, not rules. So, they can say things like "2 year olds should wear masks, but don't fret if they can't." Then the states, counties and schools think they need to create enforceable rules based off of that guidance, rather than just allowing them to be treated as recommendations. And in this process, they become more strict.

Until quite recently, the movement was in the wrong direction. The Smithsonian's mask requirements this year apply to 2-year-olds, whereas they were for 5 year olds last year.

No one seems willing to acknowledge that risk is inherent. So rather than rationally balancing risks, it turns into taking every mitigation possible. In this case, the CDC would rather give uber-conservative guidance, and then provide caveats around it.

They are only “strongly recommended” for 2-4.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

Everyone needs to be contacting the CDC to complain about this.

Agreed. That’s how you can make changes.

Also I wouldn't discount reaching out to the local and state health officials as well. I wish the CDC had gone with the WHO recommendation of 5+ because once they started with 2yos it became widely adopted (in this area at least) and difficult to unwind. They should have started with 5 and looked at spread amongst the younger set to see if it was an issue and then re-evaluate.

I’m surprised parents haven’t reached out to the local and state health officials. It seems many parents on here are passionate about this topic.

PP here- I have. I rarely get a response but keep trying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

Everyone needs to be contacting the CDC to complain about this.

Agreed. That’s how you can make changes.

Also I wouldn't discount reaching out to the local and state health officials as well. I wish the CDC had gone with the WHO recommendation of 5+ because once they started with 2yos it became widely adopted (in this area at least) and difficult to unwind. They should have started with 5 and looked at spread amongst the younger set to see if it was an issue and then re-evaluate.

I’m surprised parents haven’t reached out to the local and state health officials. It seems many parents on here are passionate about this topic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

Everyone needs to be contacting the CDC to complain about this.

Agreed. That’s how you can make changes.

Also I wouldn't discount reaching out to the local and state health officials as well. I wish the CDC had gone with the WHO recommendation of 5+ because once they started with 2yos it became widely adopted (in this area at least) and difficult to unwind. They should have started with 5 and looked at spread amongst the younger set to see if it was an issue and then re-evaluate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

Everyone needs to be contacting the CDC to complain about this.

Agreed. That’s how you can make changes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

You don't understand. In 9 days, the Montgomery County order expires, and along with it, the requirement to follow CDC guidance.

I discovered my earlier statement was wrong, While Hogan's order does not require masking in child care facilities, there is a state health order that does require masking for children over the age of 5. So come May 28, kids 2-5 will not be required to wear masks, but those over 5 will be unless they have a developmental or physical disability that prevents them from wearing masks safely.

As it is, that exception for kids that cannot wear masks safely is currently in the county order for kids over the age of 2. It just does it by reference to the CDC and state guidance. e.g.,
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html#anchor_1613686971237

You're right that the County order will expire and I missed that. However, the State order, while it does not require child care facilities to make 2-4 year olds wear masks, strongly recommends that they do. I do not blame child care providers at all for choosing to comply with that recommendation. I blame our public health officials for utterly failing to weight the developmental risks of requiring masks for young children against the public health benefits in a population we know is much less likely to transmit Covid than other groups.

i. MDH strongly recommends that all non-vaccinated individuals over
the age of 2 years continue to wear face coverings in all indoor settings
outside of their home and in outdoor settings when physical
distancing cannot be maintained.
2
ii. MDH recommends that staff, essential visitors, and all children aged 2
years and above wear face coverings outdoors at a child care program,
school, youth day camp, or summer day program and while engaged in
outdoor offsite activities (e.g. field trips) when physical distancing cannot
be maintained.

https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/2021.05.14.01%20Amended%20Order%20Regulating%20Limiting%20the%20Spread%20of%20COVID-19.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The county mandated masks and you're pissed off at the daycare.

Have fun with that.

Again, the county could not mandate this, some of you seem to be deliberately obtuse. Either the daycare did not understand/failed to ask critical questions about the county’s authority OR is straight up lying to the parents about their reason for reversing course. With cases and mask usage both trending downward, it is strange for a daycare to suddenly start requiring them if they haven’t all along. So OP’s choice is to wait it out for a bit or eat the deposit and find a new daycare.

Yes, they can shut a child care provider or other establishment down if they are not in compliance with regulations approved by the Board of Health (the County Council sits as the Board of Health).

"each county board of health may adopt and enforce rules and regulations on any nuisance or cause of disease in the county."
https://govt.westlaw.com/mdc/Document/N7CD3CB80A64911DBB5DDAC3692B918BC?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)

Someone ratted out the provider and now they have to comply or get shut down.

Comply with what? Do you even understand the county’s current orders? I realize things are evolving fast but do try to keep up.

Yes, I do understand them. You don't, and I get that because it's not super straightforward.

Can you link to the actual regulation? And how many daycares has the DOH actually shut down over this? Are they just targeting the centers? I ask because we have looked at a number of in-home daycares lately for my infant- none require masks on the kids, none had inspection violations related to masks. Obviously, it does not affect my infant right now but I'd like to know if they are liable to being shut down over mask violations.

DP. The mask requirements and guidance for young kids have always been vague. The CDC and the Maryland Division of Early Childhood have always included caveats regarding mask usage- namely, that kids shouldn't wear masks if they are not developmentally or physically able to wear them safely and appropriately. The MoCo health orders and related guidance don't get into these details, but effectively they've incorporated them by reference.

So if they're that vague, upon what basis could the DOH shut a daycare down over this? Just trying to understand, sorry new parent......!

They aren't vague, they just rely on references to other rules (state or CDC). MoCo summarizes what rules apply on its website for the non lawyers. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

Now you are welcome to search for a provider that chooses not to follow those rules, but the rules do exist and DHHS (there is not DOH) can use its authority to shut them down. Most likely they will get a warning and do what OPs daycare did.

It's not that I'm deliberately searching for a provider who doesn't require masks- again I have an infant and if masking is still in place by the time she turns 2 we have bigger issues- just that all the in home daycares we've looked aren't having the kids wear masks so I'm surprised to learn about this requirement. There aren't a lot of centers near our home and the timetable to return to the office is up in the air so we have mainly been looking at in-home providers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry folks, Montgomery County will be following the state in no time and no masks will be “required” anymore for under 5.

Keep masking your kids folks! Hey you could even take them to a full capacity bar with you, just keep them masked!

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

+1 I want to scream

Since the CDC guidance is 2 and up MoCo is not letting up on masking for preschoolers.

WTF.

9 more days and the mask requirements go away. There are no state requirements for masks at preschools or daycares.

No, they don't go away, I'm sorry. It pisses me off too. The amended county order says the county is revertint to state OR CDC guidance, whichever is stricter. The CDC guidance clearly calls for masks in child care for anyone 2 and up that can wear a mask. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

You don't understand. In 9 days, the Montgomery County order expires, and along with it, the requirement to follow CDC guidance.

I discovered my earlier statement was wrong, While Hogan's order does not require masking in child care facilities, there is a state health order that does require masking for children over the age of 5. So come May 28, kids 2-5 will not be required to wear masks, but those over 5 will be unless they have a developmental or physical disability that prevents them from wearing masks safely.

As it is, that exception for kids that cannot wear masks safely is currently in the county order for kids over the age of 2. It just does it by reference to the CDC and state guidance. e.g.,
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html#anchor_1613686971237

DP but thanks for this. Unfortunately my daycare has indicated they will continue following whoever's guidance is the most conservative between the county/state/federal, so we are stuck with masks until the vaccine is approved for kids unless the CDC changes their tune.