A few thoughts on child-masking.
This was never an evidence-based intervention.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap…
This was never an evidence-based intervention.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap…
The data we do have now shows *higher* case rates with mask mandates.
Student and staff case rates are HIGHER in forced-mask than mask-optional schools.
Student and staff case rates are HIGHER in forced-mask than mask-optional schools.
https://twitter.com/WILLisms/status/1417902102077231110/
The lowest student case rates in Florida were in the schools that mask-mandated staff only, not students.
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
CDC's Georgia study did find higher case rates in mask optional, but still very low and the difference was not statistically significant. (Oddly, CDC does not cite this, their own most recent study on the issue, in their "science brief.")
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…
Unlike the Georgia study, pretty much nothing in the CDC section of the "science brief" on child-masking can tell us anything about child-masking.
https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/1417939998972784650
And there's this. Whatever we were doing to kids all year sure didn't work if you believe the CDC, which estimated that children had the highest infection rate of any age group, with over 41% infected by March 2021.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
So kids by far the lowest rates of severe disease and the lowest rates of death... far lower than vaccinated adults even if we assume 97% efficacy. And it wasn't because they avoided infection.
https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/1413523711651721216
So it must be that *being children* is highly protective. More protective than the vaccines.
Delta does not change this. In fact, Delta has LOWER unvaccinated risk (0.06% CFR) under age 50 than Alpha (0.03%) in the latest UK report from Friday.
Delta does not change this. In fact, Delta has LOWER unvaccinated risk (0.06% CFR) under age 50 than Alpha (0.03%) in the latest UK report from Friday.
https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/1418562741246300167
Against little or no benefit, there is substantial harm to forced masking of children, including headaches, fatigue, anxiety and impaired language development.
See for instance:
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/2…
See for instance:
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/2…
Organization for Autism Research, "The Challenge of Face Masks, November 12, 2020. researchautism.org/the-challenge-…
Kisielinski K, Giboni P, Prescher A, Klosterhalfen B, Graessel D, Funken S, Kempski O, Hirsch O. Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards? doi.org/10.3390/ijerph…
Peeters C, Vanden Berghe W, Desmet W, "Psychosocial, biological, and immunological risks for children and pupils make long-term wearing of mouth masks difficult to maintain," September 9, 2020. bmj.com/content/370/bm…
The UK gets this right.
https://twitter.com/educationgovuk/status/1366738865671782400
Finally, even if forced masking of children reduced transmission to vulnerable adults, it would be immoral to instrumentalize children by imposing restrictions on them for the benefit of others.
This is especially the case now that every adult in the school building and every parent and grandparent has been offered vaccination.
One last point… if the CDC says they recommend face masks… and the state government says they recommend face masks… then schools that want to follow should recommend face masks – and let parents decide.
Kudos to the dark green states for standing up for children and science. We need more.
The Biden CDC wants to mask school kids indefinitely, contrary to data, logic, and basic human decency.
But "CDC says so" does not excuse school administrators who choose to harm children.
But "CDC says so" does not excuse school administrators who choose to harm children.
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