Dropping masks at school

[athena]

So our girls have been begging to be allowed to ditch their masks and we're considering it starting next week. Cases are low (The entire district of 3 different buildings has had 4 cases in the past month and our county is averaging 1 case a day, tops). I'm anxious about it, but don't know if it's rational or not.

If your kids have ditched the masks, how's it going for you? I'm not trying to start any arguments or anything. I just need some good anecdotes to relieve my anxiety.

[lrmrtn]

DS's school lifted the restriction a month ago and he hasn't worn a mask at school since. The school evaluated it after 2 weeks and found there was no spike in cases. DS has had a cold in the past month but nothing else otherwise. We are having a bit a spike here due to the new variant but so far they haven't indicated the mask requirement is coming back.

[activebaby]

Apr 1, 2022 17:54:21 GMT athena said:

So our girls have been begging to be allowed to ditch their masks and we're considering it starting next week. Cases are low (The entire district of 3 different buildings has had 4 cases in the past month and our county is averaging 1 case a day, tops). I'm anxious about it, but don't know if it's rational or not.

If your kids have ditched the masks, how's it going for you? I'm not trying to start any arguments or anything. I just need some good anecdotes to relieve my anxiety.

We are mixed. Ds3 never wore a mask because he was too little when this all started and he gives me the hardest time now, so I gave in. He is not vaccinated (3 1/4 yr). Ds2 I let him take it off. He is in K and has speech issues. It’s not terrible - he has improved a lot since he has been in speech for almost 2 years. Ds - I told him it’s okay to be a little more flexible. He feels very uncomfortable now without a mask and will only remove it on the playground and while eating. Ds3 has a bit of a cold/congestion/cough (minor) right now - and is in the process of sharing that with me.
Dh and I still mask. Though we do not outside, even nearby people (example- baseball, soccer).

[jennyinheaven]

Dd doesn't mask anymore. There are like 2 kids in her entire school that still do, so I felt I was pointless once they became optional. We all did get a seasonal cold, which hasn't happened since before covid, but I keep a stock of home tests. It wasn't covid. I think we masked, hand washed, sanitized etc so much in the last two years we forgot about regular seasonal colds etc. Anyway cases are low here, DD has been vaccinated, and it hasn't seemed to be much of an issue so far.

[lecky]

I am going to let them decide if they want to wear them when they go back on Monday. We were out of town on Spring Break this week and didn't wear one the whole time. I'm not too worried. Masks have been optional the whole school year and only two or three kids in each of their classes have worn them.

[springbeduk]

Tl;dr: this rapid pro-masker would not think you crazy if your kids stopped wearing masks at least while numbers that low.

Too long full response:

Dd is still wearing a mask (and so am I) at school, but we are still having more cases here than you describe your school district having.

My daughter's school of about 340 students reported 4 cases this week, and she also said 2 of her classmates (twins) are out on quarantine due to someone in their household having covid. The week's pooled testing report hasn't come yet; last week there were 8 cases caught in pooled testing throughout the district (about 2300-2400 students; pooled testing is optional) plus several other cases. In her district when masks went optional it seemed like cases in the elementary schools maybe went up a little (there were more last week than this week), but kept trending lower in high school and middle schools; elementaries didn't have nearly as many in Jan and Feb as high school and middles had. Omicron raged among the older students in january; many days of double digit cases at the high school.

In my daughter's class of 22, there are 2-4 others (2 always; 2 seem to be sometimes) besides her, plus the teacher, still wearing masks. Very few other teachers are and it may be just 1 or 2 kids in more classes.

The district I work in, also about 2300-2400 students total across 5 schools, is totally underreporting and only has pooled testing in some classrooms of the tiniest elementary school (maybe 180ish students); that school had 3 cases this week all reported before pooled testing results. I'm not sure they even had enough kids at school this week to do testing; they've had about 18-20% out sick all week due to stomach flu, influenza, weird cold that settles into ear or sinus infections, etc, plus the 3 so far with covid. It's the oldest building and has crappy ventilation. Officially the whole district reported 8 total over the last 2 weeks but it's bogus because that letter said 0 at the high school and there were at least 3 high school students marked absent during that time period with the covid code. So ... who knows. But anyway it's way way lower than we had in January or February, and didn't go up districtwide when masks went optional, though other illnesses sure did, but it's still a lot more than what you said your district had. In most classes there's 0 or 1 students still wearing masks; a handful of staff.

I don't think it's true to say that masking is pointless once it's optional/rare in the school - at least based on current guidance and if we're talking about a KF94 or KN95 mask or surgical masks if they fit your kids very well. The experts are saying that with that type of mask, the wearer does get good protection even when others aren't masked. BUT there is (and was) lunch and snack; at least a few older (old enough to try to contact trace themselves) kids I know of here who got it in January traced their exposure people they sat with at lunch (when their masks were off).

Honestly, as much as I'm anxious about covid and pro-masking, in the situation you described, with case rates that low, I might even feel ok letting kids stop wearing masks. Maybe ... probably... maybe ... They're both old enough and vaccinated, right? And your parents already had it? Or I'm misremembering that?

For me, I'm holding on because
1. Ds is 3.5 so no vax yet; he may still get it from daycare family but at least I'd rather he not get it from me or dd.
2. Solidarity with the other families in dds class who are still masking - one is one of her best friends, has asthma, and has a family member with long covid from having caught it back in 2020, so quite anxious, and the other just came back from homeschooling but mom is very anxious about covid - younger siblings, one with respiratory issues; they just couldn't sustain homeschooling any longer. Having it be at least 3 of them not 1 or even 2 makes it easier on all of them.
3. Single parent; no family or other support here so really want to reduce risk of being incapacitated by illness
4. Afraid of it turning into a custody issue if kids got covid and I hadn't been taking all reasonable precautions; this is probably irrational because ex is already not masking where not required, but at the same time he has always gotten super anxious when kids get sick and he gets scary when his anxiety ramps up.

Anyway without those 4 factors I probably would let dd stop wearing mask at school if numbers stay low - especially if we had a week or 2 of zero cases in her school - and I don't think you have any of those factors. But you may well have other ones - that's up to you.

Anyway - that got super long, as usual! (So added tldr at top) I hope maybe helpful?

Tough decisions; I hope you and your H agree with each other in how you look at it; that would help a lot, but still tough.

[meggypoo1]

Masks were optional in the classroom but mandatory if you left the classroom. Only one kid in C’s class chose not to wear their mask. I think it’s been about a month since masks became completely optional for her. We decided it was up to her what she wanted to do since she is fully vaccinated. It took her a while to feel comfortable taking it off and she tells me she still sometimes wear it. She has had a handful of colds since the masks being dropped but nothing terrible and I think it’s like jennyinheaven said, we just haven’t had any type of colds for two years.

T dropped the mask at pre K two weeks ago and has had a cold off and on (maybe seasonal allergies) ever since. I was hesitant to let him drop the mask because he isn’t fully vaccinated yet but he wanted to just wear it when around people so I assume that’s what he is doing but idk. I just need him to be fully vaccinated and my anxiety for him will go down a lot.

I hear you though on being nervous and anxious but when I get like that I just try to remember the vaccine is working.

[athena]

Apr 1, 2022 23:34:55 GMT springbeduk said:

Tl;dr: this rapid pro-masker would not think you crazy if your kids stopped wearing masks at least while numbers that low.

Too long full response:

Dd is still wearing a mask (and so am I) at school, but we are still having more cases here than you describe your school district having.

My daughter's school of about 340 students reported 4 cases this week, and she also said 2 of her classmates (twins) are out on quarantine due to someone in their household having covid. The week's pooled testing report hasn't come yet; last week there were 8 cases caught in pooled testing throughout the district (about 2300-2400 students; pooled testing is optional) plus several other cases. In her district when masks went optional it seemed like cases in the elementary schools maybe went up a little (there were more last week than this week), but kept trending lower in high school and middle schools; elementaries didn't have nearly as many in Jan and Feb as high school and middles had. Omicron raged among the older students in january; many days of double digit cases at the high school.

In my daughter's class of 22, there are 2-4 others (2 always; 2 seem to be sometimes) besides her, plus the teacher, still wearing masks. Very few other teachers are and it may be just 1 or 2 kids in more classes.

The district I work in, also about 2300-2400 students total across 5 schools, is totally underreporting and only has pooled testing in some classrooms of the tiniest elementary school (maybe 180ish students); that school had 3 cases this week all reported before pooled testing results. I'm not sure they even had enough kids at school this week to do testing; they've had about 18-20% out sick all week due to stomach flu, influenza, weird cold that settles into ear or sinus infections, etc, plus the 3 so far with covid. It's the oldest building and has crappy ventilation. Officially the whole district reported 8 total over the last 2 weeks but it's bogus because that letter said 0 at the high school and there were at least 3 high school students marked absent during that time period with the covid code. So ... who knows. But anyway it's way way lower than we had in January or February, and didn't go up districtwide when masks went optional, though other illnesses sure did, but it's still a lot more than what you said your district had. In most classes there's 0 or 1 students still wearing masks; a handful of staff.

I don't think it's true to say that masking is pointless once it's optional/rare in the school - at least based on current guidance and if we're talking about a KF94 or KN95 mask or surgical masks if they fit your kids very well. The experts are saying that with that type of mask, the wearer does get good protection even when others aren't masked. BUT there is (and was) lunch and snack; at least a few older (old enough to try to contact trace themselves) kids I know of here who got it in January traced their exposure people they sat with at lunch (when their masks were off).

Honestly, as much as I'm anxious about covid and pro-masking, in the situation you described, with case rates that low, I might even feel ok letting kids stop wearing masks. Maybe ... probably... maybe ... They're both old enough and vaccinated, right? And your parents already had it? Or I'm misremembering that?

For me, I'm holding on because
1. Ds is 3.5 so no vax yet; he may still get it from daycare family but at least I'd rather he not get it from me or dd.
2. Solidarity with the other families in dds class who are still masking - one is one of her best friends, has asthma, and has a family member with long covid from having caught it back in 2020, so quite anxious, and the other just came back from homeschooling but mom is very anxious about covid - younger siblings, one with respiratory issues; they just couldn't sustain homeschooling any longer. Having it be at least 3 of them not 1 or even 2 makes it easier on all of them.
3. Single parent; no family or other support here so really want to reduce risk of being incapacitated by illness
4. Afraid of it turning into a custody issue if kids got covid and I hadn't been taking all reasonable precautions; this is probably irrational because ex is already not masking where not required, but at the same time he has always gotten super anxious when kids get sick and he gets scary when his anxiety ramps up.

Anyway without those 4 factors I probably would let dd stop wearing mask at school if numbers stay low - especially if we had a week or 2 of zero cases in her school - and I don't think you have any of those factors. But you may well have other ones - that's up to you.

Anyway - that got super long, as usual! (So added tldr at top) I hope maybe helpful?

Tough decisions; I hope you and your H agree with each other in how you look at it; that would help a lot, but still tough.

Yeah both girls are fully vaxxed. They've been in KF94s since January, but like you said, not at lunch or snack, or when they get a drink of water. H and I have been discussing it for a few weeks, trying to decide when would be an ok time. 

[mrscheese]

Our school went mask optional 2 weeks ago. We have “low transmission” per the county but cases are rising pretty quickly with the new sub variant. All adults and kids in our family are double vaxxed. My asthma has not been well controlled lately due to allergies. Just upped my inhaler and it’s helping. Not going to lie, tho - the thought of a cold or Covid right now scares me due to my breathing issues.

We left it up to the kids. J chose to continue to mask, Cot did not.

Friday of the first week optional there were 9 cases in the school, mostly in J’s class. 10+ more cases in the last week. Classes with more than 3 kids positive are asked to mask, and it’s encouraged to have siblings of those in the masked classes mask as well. So cot and J have been masked this week.

Next week, it goes back to optional for J. We will leave it up to them.

My mom and dad are getting their second boosters this weekend I believe.

[rainbowsockmonkey]

Our school has be masks optional but recommended the entire school year. Even with the girls being vaxxed, and low if any active cases in our school I still have them wear masks, and plan to through the end of the school year. Maybe next year we will go maskless, we'll see how things go over the summer.

[mrscheese]

I’m curious what your schools do.

We aren’t allowed to send kids to school with any symptoms. Cold, Covid, no until symptoms resolve. Even with a neg test, we have to wait until the symptoms are gone. They can return after day five of covid if the symptoms are resolving.

So, a big part of me wants them to keep the masks to avoid not just Covid but colds. Because I can’t take much time off work right now and can’t really work when they’re around.

[athena]

Apr 3, 2022 16:34:56 GMT mrscheese said:

I’m curious what your schools do.

We aren’t allowed to send kids to school with any symptoms. Cold, Covid, no until symptoms resolve. Even with a neg test, we have to wait until the symptoms are gone. They can return after day five of covid if the symptoms are resolving.

So, a big part of me wants them to keep the masks to avoid not just Covid but colds. Because I can’t take much time off work right now and can’t really work when they’re around.

That was what it was like at the beginning of the school year, except they were allowed to return with a negative test. But, unfortunately, the reason the mandate was dropped was due to a lawsuit, so they can't require tests anymore. They aren't sending home for minor symptoms anymore. It's basically "business as usual" where they are only sent home for major issues like a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

I feel you on the pain in the butt it was to keep them home for colds. Unfortunately, the kids seem to catch those regardless of whether they are masking or not.

[mrscheese]

Apr 3, 2022 16:53:41 GMT athena said:

Apr 3, 2022 16:34:56 GMT mrscheese said:

I’m curious what your schools do.

We aren’t allowed to send kids to school with any symptoms. Cold, Covid, no until symptoms resolve. Even with a neg test, we have to wait until the symptoms are gone. They can return after day five of covid if the symptoms are resolving.

So, a big part of me wants them to keep the masks to avoid not just Covid but colds. Because I can’t take much time off work right now and can’t really work when they’re around.

That was what it was like at the beginning of the school year, except they were allowed to return with a negative test. But, unfortunately, the reason the mandate was dropped was due to a lawsuit, so they can't require tests anymore. They aren't sending home for minor symptoms anymore. It's basically "business as usual" where they are only sent home for major issues like a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

I feel you on the pain in the butt it was to keep them home for colds. Unfortunately, the kids seem to catch those regardless of whether they are masking or not.

See, mine have caught one cold in two years. It’s probably because there aren’t kids with colds going to school plus the masking. Layers of protection, etc.

[springbeduk]

Apr 3, 2022 16:34:56 GMT mrscheese said:

I’m curious what your schools do.

We aren’t allowed to send kids to school with any symptoms. Cold, Covid, no until symptoms resolve. Even with a neg test, we have to wait until the symptoms are gone. They can return after day five of covid if the symptoms are resolving.

So, a big part of me wants them to keep the masks to avoid not just Covid but colds. Because I can’t take much time off work right now and can’t really work when they’re around.

Schools here are pretty much back to pre-covid usual for kids going to school with symptoms, or at least much closer to it than last year and early this school year. It kinda depends on the school nurse and the principal - some send kids home more easily than others. There's still an at home screening checklist more publicized than it was before covid but only fever and puking/diarrhea are absolute stay home; the other symptoms are if you have 2 or more and kids are totally coming in with colds, etc like they always have. I don't think they can require testing anymore either.

It's bad because now there's tons of stuff going around/lots of people getting non-covid sick (in addition to a few covid cases eaxh week), but I guess the upside is that parents no longer have to miss work when it's just a cold? Though one of the colds going around causes an intermittent low fever so parents at the strictest school are getting annoyed because they get called to pick their kid up but then an hour or two later the kid seems totally fine and has normal temp again. 🤷‍♀️

[rainbowsockmonkey]

Apr 3, 2022 16:34:56 GMT mrscheese said:

I’m curious what your schools do.

We aren’t allowed to send kids to school with any symptoms. Cold, Covid, no until symptoms resolve. Even with a neg test, we have to wait until the symptoms are gone. They can return after day five of covid if the symptoms are resolving.

So, a big part of me wants them to keep the masks to avoid not just Covid but colds. Because I can’t take much time off work right now and can’t really work when they’re around.

Here kids with a positive test have to quarantine for 5 days from positive test or onset of symptoms, and can return to school after that as long as symptoms are getting better and they feel up to it- but they have to wear a mask days 6-10.  Masks are optional otherwise.  



Like a previous poster, its business as usual otherwise for other stuff.  Kids going to school with colds and other symptoms.  No contract tracing.