End Mask Mandates, Asymptomatic Testing and Over-Quarantining of K-12 Students in California Schools
K-12 student mask mandates, asymptomatic testing and close-contact quarantines are ineffective, unnecessary and damaging to children. These policies must be revised to follow the science and protect students.
End Student Mask Mandates
There is significant evidence that children do not need to wear masks. It is widely accepted that children are at significantly lower risk from COVID-19 than adults and have a lower chance of being infected by and transmitting the virus to others.
With teachers, staff and other adults all having had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, the perceived risk of children spreading the virus to adults has been removed. Therefore, there is no public health justification for forcing children to wear masks in school. When balanced against the physical, mental and emotional harm that is now becoming evident, it is clear that masks do more harm than good. Studies have found that masks cause anxiety and depressive feelings, and impair a child’s social development and ability to communicate.
Stop Close Contact Quarantines
Over a year of data shows how unlikely it is for children to spread the virus to others so there is also no reason to quarantine healthy students who come into close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 unless they develop symptoms. Quarantining entire classrooms, because of perceived close contacts of dozens of children is similarly unproven and unnecessary, often costing entire classrooms of children multiple school days of lost learning.
Discontinue Asymptomatic Testing
The use of the overly-sensitive and inaccurate PCR test must come to an end. The PCR test is essentially worthless to stop the spread of COVID-19 and only operates to excessively exclude students from the classroom who may have been infected up to 4-5 weeks prior to their positive PCR test.
Call to Action
California Department of Health (CDPH) must start following the current scientific data that shows that its requirements for masks, quarantines and testing are outdated and overcautious. CDPH must also weigh the physical, mental and academic harm to students from these policies that unnecessarily deny students their fundamental right to an education. As school districts need to properly plan and implement these policies for the fall, we are asking CDPH to immediately revise these guidelines.
The thousands of parents that make up Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools are calling on state and local representatives and agencies to discontinue these harmful policies and act in the interest of what is best for our children.
Join us, share your voice, and take action!
www.letthembreathe.net
End Mask Mandates, Asymptomatic Testing and Over-Quarantining of K-12 Students in California Schools
K-12 student mask mandates, asymptomatic testing and close-contact quarantines are ineffective, unnecessary and damaging to children. These policies must be revised to follow the science and protect students.
End Student Mask Mandates
There is significant evidence that children do not need to wear masks. It is widely accepted that children are at significantly lower risk from COVID-19 than adults and have a lower chance of being infected by and transmitting the virus to others.
With teachers, staff and other adults all having had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, the perceived risk of children spreading the virus to adults has been removed. Therefore, there is no public health justification for forcing children to wear masks in school. When balanced against the physical, mental and emotional harm that is now becoming evident, it is clear that masks do more harm than good. Studies have found that masks cause anxiety and depressive feelings, and impair a child’s social development and ability to communicate.
Stop Close Contact Quarantines
Over a year of data shows how unlikely it is for children to spread the virus to others so there is also no reason to quarantine healthy students who come into close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 unless they develop symptoms. Quarantining entire classrooms, because of perceived close contacts of dozens of children is similarly unproven and unnecessary, often costing entire classrooms of children multiple school days of lost learning.
Discontinue Asymptomatic Testing
The use of the overly-sensitive and inaccurate PCR test must come to an end. The PCR test is essentially worthless to stop the spread of COVID-19 and only operates to excessively exclude students from the classroom who may have been infected up to 4-5 weeks prior to their positive PCR test.
Call to Action
California Department of Health (CDPH) must start following the current scientific data that shows that its requirements for masks, quarantines and testing are outdated and overcautious. CDPH must also weigh the physical, mental and academic harm to students from these policies that unnecessarily deny students their fundamental right to an education. As school districts need to properly plan and implement these policies for the fall, we are asking CDPH to immediately revise these guidelines.
The thousands of parents that make up Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools are calling on state and local representatives and agencies to discontinue these harmful policies and act in the interest of what is best for our children.
Join us, share your voice, and take action!
www.letthembreathe.net