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The CDC recently issued some rather perplexing guidelines, leading many Americans to disregard the fine print and remove their masks in droves, regardless of their vaccination status or local regulations. According to these recommendations, only fully vaccinated individuals, including children, should be unmasked. This sparked a wave of Republican governors—such as those in South Carolina and Texas—to enact policies making masks optional in schools. Given that children under twelve cannot yet be vaccinated and older students may not have full immunity by the end of the school year, this decision seems misguided. Teachers, too, can unmask regardless of their vaccination status. South Carolina Governor Henry Thompson stated, “It is unreasonable for school districts to dictate whether a child should wear a mask; that decision is for parents to make.” However, with only about 36% of South Carolinians fully vaccinated, many educators remain at risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Now is not the time to remove masks from our children, Governor Thompson.
Against CDC Recommendations
Right at the top of their school reopening guidelines, the CDC clearly states, “IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SCHOOLS: The CDC recommends that schools continue to implement existing COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 academic year.” These strategies emphasize the “universal and correct use of masks.” The CDC couldn’t be clearer: making masks optional is a poor choice.
A study published in March revealed that COVID-19 cases among students were highest in districts without mandatory mask requirements. The CDC noted that “success” in preventing school-related transmission hinges on managing community spread and adhering to safety measures in schools, particularly masking. They also suggested postponing events, such as sports, where masking is not possible, highlighting the importance of masks in keeping students and staff safe.
Another study by the CDC found that mask usage in schools led to a 37% reduction in COVID-19 cases. The conclusion was straightforward: “Until vaccines are available for children under 12 years, universal and correct mask usage is a vital prevention strategy that schools should prioritize, regardless of vaccination status.” This evidence from one of the world’s leading health organizations raises questions about why we are even discussing making schools mask-optional.
Oh, right: “freedom.” As Texas Governor Greg Parker puts it, “We can still mitigate COVID-19 while protecting Texans’ liberty to choose whether or not to wear masks.” This politicization of masks conveys the message that individuals should be free to contract and spread COVID-19, disregarding the government’s role in safeguarding public health.
Mask-Optional Isn’t About Freedom
Dr. Alice Johnson, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Johns Hopkins, put it succinctly when speaking to NPR: “Allowing mask-optional policies is like saying: You can drive 55 mph if you think it’s safe, but if someone else believes they can safely drive at 90 mph, their choice could endanger your life.” Everyone needs to wear masks to ensure safety. We cannot simply ditch masks for political reasons and wait to see what happens.
What will happen, based on extensive research, is an uptick in COVID-19 cases within schools. Lawrence Green, from Rutgers University’s Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, told Politico, “It seems premature to declare it safe to let kids breathe air filled with germs from those who may carry COVID.” He wouldn’t send his daughter to a school without a mask mandate. Being a public health professional, he knows what he’s talking about.
Katherine Miller, an epidemiologist who blogs at Your Local Epidemiologist, also emphasizes: Masks are effective. She adds, “Epidemiologists can only help when our recommendations are taken seriously… Good luck? May the odds be ever in your favor? Long live freedom?”
Yes, Kids Can Spread COVID-19
Harvard Medical School has reported that a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that COVID-infected children, including asymptomatic ones, carry high viral loads. Lael Thompson, the study’s lead author and assistant professor at Massachusetts General Hospital, remarked that she was taken aback by the significant levels of the virus found in children, especially during the initial days of infection.
By making masks optional in schools, we risk letting children spread germs among themselves, potentially carrying the virus home to elderly, immunocompromised, and at-risk individuals who cannot get vaccinated.
And this isn’t an isolated finding. A study from South Korea indicated that older children—tweens and teens—are more likely to transmit the virus than younger kids or adults. They pass it to one another and then take it home, possibly endangering vulnerable individuals who cannot receive vaccinations. Adopting mask-optional policies before kids can be vaccinated will inevitably introduce the virus into communities.
Dr. Samuel Brown, a pediatrics professor at the University of Colorado and vice chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Infectious Diseases Committee, highlighted the tragic consequences of allowing politics to interfere with public health decisions. He stated, “Going mask-optional feels like a political maneuver—one that could cost lives. The evidence is clear that masks work.”
Despite the confusing CDC guidelines and the insistence of certain Republican governors, it is evident that now is not the right moment to make masks optional. The pandemic is ongoing. It’s time to stop the rhetoric about freedom and prioritize the safety of our children.
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In summary, the debate over mask policies in schools is not just about personal freedom; it’s about public health and safety. With solid evidence supporting the effectiveness of masks in preventing COVID-19 transmission, the decision to make masks optional in schools could have dangerous consequences.