Thread by @chrisvanderveen

QUICK THREAD ON MASKING IN SCHOOLS

So, we all know. This is a HUGE deal that brings out all sorts of emotions from all sorts of people.

But there's some context I feel is critical to understanding the issue.

Allow me to explain.
#COVID19Colorado

1/

Let's start with @CDPHE guidance issued earlier this month.

Go to the section about QUARANTINE for routine classroom exposures.

You might remember last school year and all of the quarantines that made keeping schools open CHALLENGING

2/

covid19.colorado.gov/practical-guid…

There's a BIG difference between last school year and this one.

Vaccines.

Kids 12+ have had months to get vaccinated.

But kids under 12 still don't have access.

This largely impacts K-6th grade

3/

These classrooms remain filled with largely unprotected children.

Last year's quarantine rules would continue to be VERY DISRUPTIVE in these classes (particularly ones that no longer COHORT)

So.. what did @CDPGE do?

It said this... (see red circle)

4/

Yes... this is a BIG change...

As long as both the infected kid and the kids nearby are wearing masks... CDPHE says there's NO NEED to quarantine the exposed kids

This is clearly an effort to keep more kids in schools.

5/

Where did @CDPHE get this guidance?

Straight from @CDCgov -- which earlier this month issued a k-12 exception for CLOSE CONTACT

Normally, close contact meant 15 minutes within 6 feet. Anyone who met that, needed to quarantine. A big problem in schools. Right?

6/

Now, the CDC is saying, as long as exposed students are wearing 'well-fitting" masks "correctly and consistently," they don't need to quarantine.

What's the big deal?

Well, you can probably already answer that.

7/

If you want to keep schools open... and you're interested in following CDC guidance...

...you have kids k-6 wear masks. Which is precisely what @CCSDK12 did late last week.

8/

9news.com/article/news/l…

to be clear... many districts have no interest in following CDC guidance,

And will operate on their own... and make up their own quarantine rules as they go

But, as the parent of an 11-year old, I can assure you, districts that require masks WILL FALL BACK on this guidance

9/

And they will use it to try to keep kids in schools.

Which, I think we all can agree, remains pretty darn important.

You don't want to enter the fall semester winging it... Many districts will.

But others will rely on what I've just explained. And now you know

10/10

One more thing...

Obviously the DELTA variant complicates things. We know it's MUCH MORE transmissible.

And with the lack of cohorting, I would expect more disruptions to come to schools that do and do not mask k-6.

Just wanna get that on the record

11/11

erp

@CDPHE