Masks or No Masks; Delta Variant Makes It a Hard Choice
FYI from Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist. The Delta variant is a really troubling one.
I did find the “ask your teacher if they are vaccinated” to be troubling. I think what could be helpful if schools could tell parents “75% of our staff is vaccinated.” But I doubt that will happen.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their recommendations this morning stating: “Everyone older than age 2 [should] wear masks, regardless of vaccination status”. The AAP provided justification:
- A significant portion of the student population is not yet eligible for vaccines;
- Masking is proven to reduce transmission of the virus and to protect those who are not vaccinated;
- Many schools will not have a system to monitor vaccine status of students, teachers and staff; and,
- Some communities overall have low vaccination uptake where the virus may be circulating more prominently.
This chart is available at the story.
Thoughts?
Comments
So between that and what we're learning about delta, I'm a little skeptical when the CDC says it's okay for vaccinated students/teachers to go unmasked in school classrooms, and a little more inclined to listen to the AAP's guidelines.
I would be shocked if SPS doesn't require masking for much or all of school, come fall. And I may change my mind, but right now I think it's an okay idea. (I would like them to periodically review their masking policy and change it as needed, though, rather than setting it in stone at the beginning of the year and never revisiting it. Conditions in this pandemic change so rapidly.)
No Brainer
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