How to keep your children healthy when your state prohibits universal masking requirements at school.
Florida Senate passed a bill making it unlawful for school districts to protect their students in ways recommended by our nation’s top medical professionals, namely masks and vaccines. (Read more here.)
After a vague email from our local school district about strategies they have not yet made public, we are recommending everyone write to the School Board prior to the start of school. (Read the email from the school here.)
Below is a copy of the email I penned to our local school board requesting more transparency regarding their strategies to protect the children and community. I do not envy their position but also need to know what they have planned to protect the children in their care.
Dear Board Members,
I am writing to express my concern regarding the safety protocols you have in place for the upcoming second semester. The email I received on Sunday made it appear as though we're all just "hoping it dissipates" to keep our children safe.
I am looking for clarification regarding your strategies, namely, are you:
Providing high-quality/filtration masks to your students? (Beyond surgical/cloth masks.)
Distancing desks by 3+ feet?
Encouraging vaccination among your employees and student population?
Testing and replacing air filters, or adding additional filtration as needed?
Conducting temperature checks upon arrival and before students get mixed with their classmates?
Contact tracing and letting families know immediately if their children were exposed?
Dispensing free at-home testing kits?
Scheduling frequent hand-washing breaks throughout the day, particularly for younger students?
Using enhanced cleaning protocols?
Offering virtual options to children out sick or quarantined?
Creating opportunities for outdoor learning/eating whenever possible?
My concerns are based on early studies and news reports from reputable sources, and include:
Early studies are showing Omicron hospitalization rates at 50% of Delta, but it's twice as transmissible. This means hospitalization rates could mirror the delta wave. (Source: NY Times)
Those vaccinated are catching and spreading Omicron, though rarely needing hospital care. This means our vaccinated teachers, students, and healthcare workers may end up out sick, stressing the systems further. (Source: Business Insider)
It should be noted that children are being hospitalized at higher rates, likely due to the transmissibility of Omicron. (Source: NBC News)
Hospitals in Florida are already canceling elective surgeries and essential services. Sarasota is not immune from this possibility (Source: Miami Herald)
Additionally:
Rapid tests are sold out across Sarasota.
High-quality masks that are being suggested by medical professionals across the country, specifically N95, KN95, KF94, or M95 masks, are either on backorder or being sold at prices the average parent cannot afford - $1.50-2.20/mask.
Care for any other illness or injury encountered by children or a family member may be jeopardized due to stress on the medical community from the spread of Omicron, particularly if it is not taken seriously and controlled.
I do not envy your position, for the governor has made it near impossible to protect our children from their classmates belonging toparents who only value individual liberty instead of the general health and well-being of their entire school.
In lieu of mandatory masks and vaccinations, I sincerely hope you're planning to use as many of the above-mentioned strategies as possible to protect our children.