In January of this year, Cochrane, a British firm the New York Times referred to as “the gold standard for its review of health care data,” conducted an extensive study on the effectiveness of masks in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Tom Jefferson, an Oxford epidemiologist and lead author of the study, stated that the “findings were unambiguous.”
In February, Jefferson told journalist Maryanne Demasi, “There is just no evidence that they” — masks — “make any difference.”
Jefferson went on to say the original “guidance” issued by the FDA and CDC was based on “non-randomised studies [and] flawed observational studies.”
Former CDC Director Rochelle Walenski argued that masks reduce COVID-19 transmission by 80%. That statement has proven to be false.
Nevertheless, as the school and flu season merge once again this fall, some school administrators are moving to reinstate mask mandates.
The Epoch Times reported that a school in Montgomery County, Maryland, was testing the mandate waters by announcing it would “mandate masking for at least 10 days after three students tested positive for the virus in one classroom.”
Rosemary Hills School administrators announced that KN95 masks have been distributed to students and teachers and at-home rapid testing kits were sent home.
In a letter dated Sept. 5, Principal Rebecca Irwin Kennedy wrote: “Additional KN95 masks have been distributed and students and staff in identified classes or activities will be required to mask while in school for the next 10 days, except while eating or drinking.”
Kennedy noted the mask mandate is “to keep our school environment as safe as possible for in-person teaching … to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 in this group.”
WTOP-TV reported that the Montgomery County school district policy says that masks are optional, with some exceptions. The district’s statement read: “Masks may be recommended or required.”
Montgomery County health official Patricia Kapunan said: “It is important that everyone continue to practice healthy habits, such as good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick. These vital health strategies and vaccination are key prevention measures we use every day to prevent the spread of illness in our schools,”
Supporting the School District’s statement, Kapunan added, “Other measures may be temporarily introduced during outbreaks, including screening testing, distancing, and masking to control spread in a specific space where transmission is high.”
“Multiple strategies are used, and students who cannot safely and consistently mask due to young age, a medical condition, or developmental disability are not required to do so,” Kapunan added.
Rosemary Hills School’s mask mandate decision follows a similar decision by Kinterbish Junior High School in Cuba, Alabama, which declared: “Due to the slow raise [sic] of COVID cases in the area, students, employees, and visitors are asked to wear facial masks.”
Administrators in multiple schools in Pennsylvania, New York, California and Alabama have told parents that masks are encouraged but not required.
Several school districts in Kentucky and Texas recently canceled classes due to COVID-19-related concerns.
Recently, former President Donald Trump suggested that Democrats are using COVID to “take away our freedom” and impact the coming 2024 election. “WE WILL NOT COMPLY,” Trump said.
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