Thread by @SafeSchoolsBC

🧵:
Provinces DID NOT follow “duty of care” when removing universal masking policies in schools.

1) Latest revelations from NB:

Request for justification reveals a single study, later debunked. Study funded by right-wing libertarian group w/ ties to big oil & GBD.😱

See 🧵⬇️:

https://twitter.com/HallwayOrchard/status/1557399959896481793

2) A court challenge in Alberta for the govt to reveal justifications for removing mask protections in schools, revealed that AB gov’s OWN DATA showed that masks reduce COVID-19 cases in schools & in community (less hospitalizations too), yet gov removed masks anyway!

Corrupt?🤔

https://twitter.com/safeschoolsbc/status/1547324695178932229

3) That’s 2 provinces shown to use sloppy, cherry-picked studies from dubious sources or making decisions despite data showing otherwise.

Political, not evidence-based.

*All* 🇨🇦provinces who tossed mask protections look guilty of bowing to political pressure, then.

https://twitter.com/walkerbragman/status/1555725244723339264

4/ Meanwhile, studies prove that universal masking policies in schools work to reduce spread, increase attendance (& therefore learning), & reduce long-term harms. One of the latest:

https://twitter.com/safeschoolsbc/status/1557444328443678721

5/ Also, studies are piling up that prove schools are drivers of COVID spread in the community, which is not a surprise to parents everywhere.

Viruses brought home from school? You don’t say! 🙄

To claim otherwise is patent gaslighting. Downright lies, at this point.

https://twitter.com/drzoehyde/status/1546192500041588736

6/ An important PSA concept that is missing from all @CDCofBC communications is the value of masks as source control. When everyone wears a mask, less virus is expelled into the air, should one be infectious but pre-symptomatic.

Aerosol expert @kprather88 says it best:

https://twitter.com/kprather88/status/1556357045984514048

7/ What about one-way masking? Shouldn’t masking be a choice? Can’t the immunocompromised just wear a mask themselves?

Answer - no. Because source control is absent, it’s more likely for the rest to breathe it in.

BC example:

https://twitter.com/vanisleveggie/status/1555351390121107456

8/ A reminder that:
- kids must go to school
- public schools are supposed to be inclusive of ALL children, including immunocompromised
- some staff are immunocompromised too
- some kids or staff live w/ at-risk family members
- schools are crowded places; shared air for hours.

https://twitter.com/jaclynmacrae/status/1358236710593728513

9/ What about “masking hindering development”?

Not only is it proven to be a false excuse, invented by those who want to “get back to normal” despite variants that keep the pandemic going, it’s also proven wrong by countries who’ve accepted masks as a social norm in a pandemic.

https://twitter.com/lazaruslong13/status/1557279294258176001

10/ See this article, explaining how the brain works to compensate for not seeing someone’s mouth when they speak.

Masking DOES NOT hinder language development.

Keeping kids healthy and in-class, without disruption by illness, matters more.

npr.org/sections/healt…

11/ Will we need to mask forever?

Answer: no.

But until gov’ts provide pandemic-proof clean air standards in schools, the way we have clean water, universal masking is one of the most effective tools (especially better quality; KN95+)

Keeps schools open & society functioning.

https://twitter.com/chantz_y/status/1555334096175280129

12/ Isn’t it better for our immune systems to catch COVID repeatedly? Hybrid immunity?

Unfortunately the evidence says the opposite. Catching COVID, especially over and over, can *damage immune systems*.

Even Public Health Ontario acknowledges it.

https://twitter.com/KashPrime/status/1549511765578366977

13/ Damaged immune systems is not the only potential long-term harm. The burden of #LongCovid is growing in every country that is needlessly following a #LetItRIP policy. That includes #LongCovidKids.

UK has actual stats ⬇️ (Canada still not collecting LC data - unconscionable!)

https://twitter.com/sallybourliakas/status/1555436612812677124

14/ But I sn’t it hard on kids to have to mask every day?

Answer: no.

Kids are resilient & want to help the community. When given the right information & understanding how it helps keep themselves & others safe, they rise to the occasion.

Bonus: less illness = more learning!

https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1554562149879451648

15/END
Universal masking in schools is necessary since #COVIDisNotOver. It allows ALL kids access to ed, too.

Protecting schools protects the community, including the workforce & HC.

Provinces MUST return protections to schools for a #SafeSeptember.

Ed ministers: layer up!⬇️

https://twitter.com/vera_tenacious/status/1545456602144129024