Natalie Duckworth, Staff Writer Glenn Youngkin, Virginia’s new governor, reversed his predecessor Ralph Northam's decision to make masks mandatory in all K-12 schools. While many schools, including Norfolk Christian, have made masks optional for all students, other schools around the state are challenging Youngkin’s executive order in court or are simply ignoring it. In an op-ed, Youngkin wrote that he plans to redefine the idea of a mandate by giving parents the choice to decide whether or not their children will wear masks in school. Essentially, he aims to adjust how schools approach the pandemic. Multiple districts in Virginia have decided to sue Youngkin for his actions, citing that without masks, cases will continue to climb. However, Youngkin has no plans to back down, remarking that, “we will continue to protect parents’ fundamental right to make decisions with regard to their child’s upbringing, education, and care.” Another one of Youngkin’s goals is to end all statewide mandates in an attempt to return to normalcy. This goal begs the question - is it safe to start unmasking kids in school? Photo by Lily Strickland; At Norfolk Christian, wearing a mask in classes is optional. However, foregoing a mask in hallways and public spaces requires a signature from a parent or guardian. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends mask mandates in K-12 schools, even if the students are vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO), on the other hand, is firmly against masking children under the age of 5 and also resists masking children aged 6 to 11. America stands out from its European counterparts by choosing to ignore guidance from the WHO. According to medical studies, children without pre-existing conditions are very unlikely to die or experience dangerous symptoms after contracting COVID-19. One study conducted in two Tennessee counties compared the effects of mandated masking and opt-out masking to COVID-19 rates in school. Both counties had similar vaccination rates against COVID-19, and the same case rates among school-aged children, despite the fact that the school with the opt-out masking had 23% of their students unmasked. Multiple studies have been conducted across the country and in Europe, but many factors such as vaccination and comparable case rates are lacking, making it hard to find an answer with universal application. In addition, the CDC has stated that cloth masks are insufficient against the omicron variant. For months, they asserted that masks with multiple layers protect people against COVID-19. However, the best protection against the recent variant is apparently an N95 or KN95 mask. These are often difficult to find because of high demand; masks with maximum air filtration are primarily used by doctors and nurses that treat patients infected with COVID-19. Even if an average American wore a N95 or KN95 mask, its resistance against omicron is still questionable, for the wearer needs multiple hours of wearing for a tight seal. Because of this, the CDC ultimately suggests that Americans wear a mask that fits well and is available to them. Photo by Lily Strickland; In response to the mandate's removal, it all depends on choice. While some students feel that masks hinder their learning and social life, other students prefer wearing them. Neither opinion is wrong. The problem with mandates is that the data supporting them is insufficient. At the beginning of the pandemic, schools closed and millions of students suffered physically, emotionally, and mentally. When schools reopened, the nation did not see a significant rise in cases, even when mitigation efforts were minimal. Now that masking is partially gone, school administrators can see how past mitigations have worsened students’ mental health and overall education. Works Cited Mandavilli, Apoorva. "The C.D.C. Concedes That Cloth Masks Do Not Protect Against the Virus As Effectively As Other Masks." The New
York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos, 16 Jan. 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/01/14/health/cloth-masks-covid-cdc.html. Accessed 30 Jan. 2022. Smelkinson, Margery, et al. "The Case Against Masks at School." The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2022, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/kids-masks-schools-weak-science/621133/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2022. Vitka, Will. "Youngkin Pens Op-ed Defending Ban on Mask Mandates; Fairfax Supervisors Support School Mask Requirement." WTOP News, 26 Jan. 2022, wtop.com/coronavirus/2022/01/youngkin-pens-op-ed-defending-ban-on-mask-mandates-fairfax-schools-uphold- requirement/. Accessed 28 Jan. 2022.
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