I heard over the radio this morning that there will be no universal Covid testing or mask mandates in the schools.
Great news!!
I will echo TK’s comment. I am Surprised by your interest in MA schools….or did you move back?
MA schools or nationwide. If MA, this was put in place at the start of summer. It is well beyond absolute irresponsibility. It goes against every responsible health experts advice. But DESE has shown a marked lack of care for students and staff throughout. Proof would be the numbers over 100,000 in the first two weeks of this year alone.
I understand your concern Vicki but I imagine that if a student feels sick their parent or parents will get their child tested immediately via their pediatrician or home self tests and if proved positive will inform the school which will notify as to how long their child needs to be isolation and if any further testing will be required etc.
No mask mandates doesn’t equal “no masking allowed.” If a student and/or parent feels more comfortable wearing a mask to school then so be it. I highly doubt for the foreseeable future that any public building will ever deny masking by any individual.
I’m certainly not Joshua but I believe we are at the stage of this pandemic now that each individual can decide what steps need to be taken against Covid including checking oneself, testing and getting the latest vaccinations as they become available.
I am assuming no insurance will ever be necessary to stay healthy from Covid of course.
Far too many parents will send kids to school sick. There isn’t a school staff member who will say otherwise. During the entire pandemic, parents were sending kids with known covid and when the child(ten) had a parent with covid.
There are some very responsible parents. There are some who just want their kids in school no matter how sick they are
It has always been the case….always. The hope was covid would change this. It didn’t
So far too many individuals have shown regard for only themselves. It won’t change.
The truth is that folks who are responsible pay the price for the many who are not.
You make a good point Vicki. I forgot that in most cases both parents work and will take the chance sending their sick child to school. I keep forgetting that there are very few stay-at-home mothers these days even if finances aren’t an issue. Not to mention that I’m not a parent myself.
If I didn’t have a fever, it would be 50/50 as to whether I went to school or not but even a slight fever, I was kept home.
Philip, your comment that we have reached the point of personal responsibility is absolutely true and makes perfect sense. Sadly that seems to be a trait many have forgotten
Mac and I did the same as your family as do my girls. I understand both parents work. Both Mac and I worked. I worked from home but more often than not well over a 40 hour week. Even working from home, Kids out of school meant lost work. My oldest works but can tailor her hours somewhat although does not receive pay if she is home. I’m trying to say this as politely as possible, but if a child is ill, that child is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver and not the school.
Please read thread, especially about schools walensky and Jha’s kids attend and the fact that both CDC director and jha work from home. I’m am far from the only one who understands that we have not at any point …outside of the first few months….done anything to protect our kids and the school staffs.
I am for individual responsibility. BUT, we know that many individuals don’t take their responsibility seriously.
So, for example, I have Covid tests at home and do test myself every time I go to the nursing home/assisted living to visit a long time friend – she’s 101 and still kicking! – but I am sure some do not do this when they visit her. We know that there have been outbreaks in these facilities that have killed many people. This even happens today. Similarly, I know that folks going to the local CVS to pick up prescriptions are sometimes immune-compromised. So, I always wear a KN95 mask there and keep my distance from people in the pharmacy. But, I am sure some (most) do not do this.
Hence, I am not happy with the schools giving up on weekly testing. Testing is our only way to know whether something is circulating and could lead to mini outbreaks. Sure, the vast majority of children will be fine if they contract Covid. But, what about the teachers, the janitors, the cleaning folks, others? We know that many such folks have died since the beginning of the pandemic. Is it that hard to protect them? Or, have we just thrown in the towel? I think the latter, because it’s what America is very good at doing when it comes to public health. Many countries have relaxed most if not all Covid measures, to be sure. But, these countries have better overall public health systems with greater access to care, and more focus on improving underlying conditions that could lead to severe Covid.
Vicki sent a tweet earlier that contained a quote from Maria Van Kerkhove (American lead scientist at WHO). She is so right about this: “15,000 people are dying weekly, worldwide. 15,000 mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, people we love. I know we are tired, but when did this become acceptable?”
In America, I think we accept the unacceptable far too easily. I’m not happy about this.
With tears, your comment is absolute truth.
C-19
8-24
ready
Comments are closed.
Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
Thanks TK.
I heard over the radio this morning that there will be no universal Covid testing or mask mandates in the schools.
Great news!!
I will echo TK’s comment. I am Surprised by your interest in MA schools….or did you move back?
MA schools or nationwide. If MA, this was put in place at the start of summer. It is well beyond absolute irresponsibility. It goes against every responsible health experts advice. But DESE has shown a marked lack of care for students and staff throughout. Proof would be the numbers over 100,000 in the first two weeks of this year alone.
I understand your concern Vicki but I imagine that if a student feels sick their parent or parents will get their child tested immediately via their pediatrician or home self tests and if proved positive will inform the school which will notify as to how long their child needs to be isolation and if any further testing will be required etc.
No mask mandates doesn’t equal “no masking allowed.” If a student and/or parent feels more comfortable wearing a mask to school then so be it. I highly doubt for the foreseeable future that any public building will ever deny masking by any individual.
I’m certainly not Joshua but I believe we are at the stage of this pandemic now that each individual can decide what steps need to be taken against Covid including checking oneself, testing and getting the latest vaccinations as they become available.
I am assuming no insurance will ever be necessary to stay healthy from Covid of course.
Far too many parents will send kids to school sick. There isn’t a school staff member who will say otherwise. During the entire pandemic, parents were sending kids with known covid and when the child(ten) had a parent with covid.
There are some very responsible parents. There are some who just want their kids in school no matter how sick they are
It has always been the case….always. The hope was covid would change this. It didn’t
So far too many individuals have shown regard for only themselves. It won’t change.
The truth is that folks who are responsible pay the price for the many who are not.
You make a good point Vicki. I forgot that in most cases both parents work and will take the chance sending their sick child to school. I keep forgetting that there are very few stay-at-home mothers these days even if finances aren’t an issue. Not to mention that I’m not a parent myself.
If I didn’t have a fever, it would be 50/50 as to whether I went to school or not but even a slight fever, I was kept home.
Philip, your comment that we have reached the point of personal responsibility is absolutely true and makes perfect sense. Sadly that seems to be a trait many have forgotten
Mac and I did the same as your family as do my girls. I understand both parents work. Both Mac and I worked. I worked from home but more often than not well over a 40 hour week. Even working from home, Kids out of school meant lost work. My oldest works but can tailor her hours somewhat although does not receive pay if she is home. I’m trying to say this as politely as possible, but if a child is ill, that child is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver and not the school.
Great question. When did this become acceptable
https://twitter.com/denise_dewald/status/1562054629864738817?s=21&t=7VEaEnF1Xs2tamn98JJGOA
Please read thread, especially about schools walensky and Jha’s kids attend and the fact that both CDC director and jha work from home. I’m am far from the only one who understands that we have not at any point …outside of the first few months….done anything to protect our kids and the school staffs.
https://twitter.com/danaparish/status/1562138160611569664?s=21&t=7VmN29AVkf8OxAG9qx346A
I am for individual responsibility. BUT, we know that many individuals don’t take their responsibility seriously.
So, for example, I have Covid tests at home and do test myself every time I go to the nursing home/assisted living to visit a long time friend – she’s 101 and still kicking! – but I am sure some do not do this when they visit her. We know that there have been outbreaks in these facilities that have killed many people. This even happens today. Similarly, I know that folks going to the local CVS to pick up prescriptions are sometimes immune-compromised. So, I always wear a KN95 mask there and keep my distance from people in the pharmacy. But, I am sure some (most) do not do this.
Hence, I am not happy with the schools giving up on weekly testing. Testing is our only way to know whether something is circulating and could lead to mini outbreaks. Sure, the vast majority of children will be fine if they contract Covid. But, what about the teachers, the janitors, the cleaning folks, others? We know that many such folks have died since the beginning of the pandemic. Is it that hard to protect them? Or, have we just thrown in the towel? I think the latter, because it’s what America is very good at doing when it comes to public health. Many countries have relaxed most if not all Covid measures, to be sure. But, these countries have better overall public health systems with greater access to care, and more focus on improving underlying conditions that could lead to severe Covid.
Vicki sent a tweet earlier that contained a quote from Maria Van Kerkhove (American lead scientist at WHO). She is so right about this: “15,000 people are dying weekly, worldwide. 15,000 mothers, daughters, sons, brothers, people we love. I know we are tired, but when did this become acceptable?”
In America, I think we accept the unacceptable far too easily. I’m not happy about this.
With tears, your comment is absolute truth.
C-19
8-24
ready