Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These things need to happen before removing masks:
(a) there needs to be an effective post-infection treatment that is widely available. One is pending approval, but that's about it.
(b) a vaccine must be available and administered to children under 5
(c) all children should be required by MCPS to be vaccinated by policy
(d) the variants need to be in a "known" and not "emerging" state. Why? All it takes is one bad mutation and everyone is back to square one.

Until all of the above are a reality - I don't know how anyone can say it's "safe" not to wear a mask (unless you've never been infected so are ignorant, or maybe just a sick troll who lost a child or family member to covid and just want to spread a little holiday cheer to everyone else?). Get real.

None of that will happen. Be real. Our government is pushing vaccines and refuses to address the issue of those getting Covid vaccinated.

Anonymous wrote:Masks aren't a big deal. Stupid politics; they're a cultural norm in Asia.

Anonymous wrote:These things need to happen before removing masks:
(a) there needs to be an effective post-infection treatment that is widely available. One is pending approval, but that's about it.
(b) a vaccine must be available and administered to children under 5
(c) all children should be required by MCPS to be vaccinated by policy
(d) the variants need to be in a "known" and not "emerging" state. Why? All it takes is one bad mutation and everyone is back to square one.

Until all of the above are a reality - I don't know how anyone can say it's "safe" not to wear a mask (unless you've never been infected so are ignorant, or maybe just a sick troll who lost a child or family member to covid and just want to spread a little holiday cheer to everyone else?). Get real.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last couple of months have gone great for MCPS (although last year was such an utter failure when the rest of the country went back that they deserve no kudos).

Over the last few weeks we have had unmasked homecoming, parties, kids are having playdates constantly, and even unmasked lunch in schools. And almost no spread (very minimal at worst).

With the 5 to 11 group set to vaccinated very shortly, when do we start discussing masks? If you are a "mask forever" type please spare me, you are not based in reality or science. This is a serious discussion about when we think it will be safe. That day is coming, and probably sooner than we think. Me? I am think by Jan 2022 masks won't be necessary in schools and MCPS will ultimately have to bow to public pressure.

You need to understand in Montgomery county majority of people want MCPS to have masks on. There will be more public pressure to have masks in school than no masks. Parents will protest, even more than texas and florida parents, if there is no mask mandate. Just stop being selfish and accept the new normal. Masks and vaccine, these keep our lives as normal as possible.

The right-wing extremists that post here are very vocal. I just read an article talking about how they've managed to derail public policy in many jurisdictions despite being a small minority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last couple of months have gone great for MCPS (although last year was such an utter failure when the rest of the country went back that they deserve no kudos).

Over the last few weeks we have had unmasked homecoming, parties, kids are having playdates constantly, and even unmasked lunch in schools. And almost no spread (very minimal at worst).

With the 5 to 11 group set to vaccinated very shortly, when do we start discussing masks? If you are a "mask forever" type please spare me, you are not based in reality or science. This is a serious discussion about when we think it will be safe. That day is coming, and probably sooner than we think. Me? I am think by Jan 2022 masks won't be necessary in schools and MCPS will ultimately have to bow to public pressure.

You need to understand in Montgomery county majority of people want MCPS to have masks on. There will be more public pressure to have masks in school than no masks. Parents will protest, even more than texas and florida parents, if there is no mask mandate. Just stop being selfish and accept the new normal. Masks and vaccine, these keep our lives as normal as possible.

Anonymous wrote:The last couple of months have gone great for MCPS (although last year was such an utter failure when the rest of the country went back that they deserve no kudos).

Over the last few weeks we have had unmasked homecoming, parties, kids are having playdates constantly, and even unmasked lunch in schools. And almost no spread (very minimal at worst).

With the 5 to 11 group set to vaccinated very shortly, when do we start discussing masks? If you are a "mask forever" type please spare me, you are not based in reality or science. This is a serious discussion about when we think it will be safe. That day is coming, and probably sooner than we think. Me? I am think by Jan 2022 masks won't be necessary in schools and MCPS will ultimately have to bow to public pressure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://corporate.dukehealth.org/news/data-finds-universal-masking-limits-school-transmission-covid-19-despite-delta-variant

“The findings of this study are extremely encouraging for the health and safety of students and staff attending schools where universal masking is in place,” said Kanecia Zimmerman, MD, MPH, co-chair of the ABC Science Collaborative. “The Delta variant is more transmissible than previous ancestral variants, but transmission in schools can continue to be low with vaccination among those who are eligible, strict adherence to masking, and avoidance of pandemic fatigue.”

"A masking mandate in North Carolina schools during the early weeks of the Delta variant surge resulted in a lower rate of infection among school children and staff members than what was reported in the broader community, according to a new report from the ABC Science Collaborative."

We are now in the late weeks of the Delta variant surge. I'm not saying that the state should lift the school mask mandate tomorrow. I'm saying that mitigation measures put in place while Delta was surging may not be appropriate once the Delta surge is over.

Except now there are new variants and with families traveling over the holidays there is a good chance it will come here.

Anonymous wrote:I think we will have masks through the school year. I think mcps has handled things pretty well. Between masks and the opt-in testing (my kids are getting tested at school weekly), I feel okay about how things are going. The kids are used to wearing masks. No big deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With breakthrough cases, are you willing to risk a child dying because you don't feel like wearing a mask.

Do you drive? Are you willing to risk killing a child because you don't feel like walking, biking, taking a bus, or forgoing the trip?

Really? October 2021 and you still don't know what a pandemic is. MCPS grad?

What's the difference between risking a child's death from covid and risking a child's death from a car crash? Why would you refuse to accept the former, but accept the latter?

What are you rambling about? This isn't a discussion about car accidents. I would hope with covid you take precautions like vaccines and masking and for car accidents you keep your car well maintained, get all the available safety features, wear a seat belt, have your kids in appropriate car seats and not rush them out as its easier for you, etc. Precautions save lives in both situations!

Correct, it's a discussion about actions we are and aren't willing to take to reduce the risks of children dying. In 2019, car crashes killed 281 children aged 1-4 in cars and 79 children aged 1-4 not in cars (pedestrians, etc.). For children aged 5-9, the 2019 number of deaths were 340 in cars and 15 not in cars. For children aged 10-14, the 2019 number of deaths were 420 in cars and 20 not in cars.

You could completely eliminate your risk of killing a child while driving by not driving. Why aren't you willing to do that?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With breakthrough cases, are you willing to risk a child dying because you don't feel like wearing a mask.

Do you drive? Are you willing to risk killing a child because you don't feel like walking, biking, taking a bus, or forgoing the trip?

Really? October 2021 and you still don't know what a pandemic is. MCPS grad?

What's the difference between risking a child's death from covid and risking a child's death from a car crash? Why would you refuse to accept the former, but accept the latter?

What are you rambling about? This isn't a discussion about car accidents. I would hope with covid you take precautions like vaccines and masking and for car accidents you keep your car well maintained, get all the available safety features, wear a seat belt, have your kids in appropriate car seats and not rush them out as its easier for you, etc. Precautions save lives in both situations!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With breakthrough cases, are you willing to risk a child dying because you don't feel like wearing a mask.

Do you drive? Are you willing to risk killing a child because you don't feel like walking, biking, taking a bus, or forgoing the trip?

Really? October 2021 and you still don't know what a pandemic is. MCPS grad?

What's the difference between risking a child's death from covid and risking a child's death from a car crash? Why would you refuse to accept the former, but accept the latter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With breakthrough cases, are you willing to risk a child dying because you don't feel like wearing a mask.

Do you drive? Are you willing to risk killing a child because you don't feel like walking, biking, taking a bus, or forgoing the trip?

Really? October 2021 and you still don't know what a pandemic is. MCPS grad?

What's the difference between risking a child's death from covid and risking a child's death from a car crash? Why would you refuse to accept the former, but accept the latter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

With breakthrough cases, are you willing to risk a child dying because you don't feel like wearing a mask.

Do you drive? Are you willing to risk killing a child because you don't feel like walking, biking, taking a bus, or forgoing the trip?

Really? October 2021 and you still don't know what a pandemic is. MCPS grad?