The delta variant is causing a rapid uptick of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. While I think it is worse in the southern states, Iowa has more than its share of new cases and has seen an upward trend in the past few weeks. With school starting, our illustrious leaders in state government are sticking to an ill-advised law they passed under the cover of darkness in May. Local school committees and school boards should be allowed to institute mask mandates especially in counties with high rates of resurgence. They should be allowed to follow CDC guidance. This should not be a political issue – it’s a health issue.
The science is pretty clear that masks help prevent infection. They don’t protect the wearer so much as they protect the people with whom the wearer interacts. A small majority of those eligible have received the vaccine but over half of the student population is not eligible and I would guess that a majority of the thirteen to eighteen year old students have not been vaccinated. Therefore it makes sense to me that everyone in a school should wear a mask to protect everyone in the school. Do I like wearing one – no but I do for everyone’s protection. Even though I am fully vaccinated I can still carry and transmit the delta variant. We know from history that relaxing mitigation efforts too early only prolongs the pandemic. The Spanish Flu pandemic continued for at least one or two years longer than it should have because people stopped mitigation practices of masking and avoiding large crowds. It should not be business as usual just yet.
While we’re on the subject, the science is pretty clear that vaccinations help prevent infection and spread of infection too. There may be some side effects and some people will suffer more because of the vaccine but overall it is a benefit to society at large for everyone to get vaccinated. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…or the one.
Everyone has an opinion, but having an opinion does not necessarily make the opinion valid. A few minutes of research on social media does not equal the 6.5 billion dollars that the CDC spends on research each year.
That’s my opinion, but as usual, I got nuthin’…
Please add your thoughts in the comment section if only to say “hi” and let me know you’re reading.
Straight facts, Jimbo. Straight facts.
Not sure what your point is but I do know that you can find a study to support any conclusion. The thing to look for is a reliable source. The National Academy of Sciences is a reliable source and this is what they have to say about masks:
The preponderance of evidence indicates that mask wearing reduces transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected respiratory particles in both laboratory and clinical contexts. Public mask wearing is most effective at reducing spread of the virus when compliance is high.
Source: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118
Or like having to get vaccinated or else I’ll get fired like ok gur. You go Joe.
We require vaccinations for other diseases so I don’t see why this is different. Mumps, Chicken Pox, and Measles were normal childhood events fifty years ago. Now, thanks to vaccines, a couple of generations have not had to suffer from those diseases.
Some three billion people worldwide have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. It seems to be safe and effective.
I don’t believe that this is a political issue – it is a science issue.