Ontario is in the process of removing all of its COVID 19 restrictions. Its mask mandate will disappear after the end of March Break. Sachin Maharaj, a professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Ottawa, writes that the decision on masks in schools should be left to individual school boards:
What is striking about [Dr. Kieran] Moore’s decision to drop mask mandates is how much it is opposed by his colleagues in the medical and scientific communities. This includes the heads of Sick Kids, CHEO and other pediatric hospitals in the Children’s Health Coalition. It also includes the head of Ontario’s science advisory table, who told the CBC the decision to remove masking is “not supported by science right now because it’s just too early.”
Indeed, wastewater analysis by the science table suggests that we are still experiencing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 new COVID infections per day. Two months ago, this was the level of spread that closed schools for two weeks. But somehow now it is cause to drop the one intervention reliably shown to reduce transmission?
Ford says, “Let me be very clear to the school boards: they aren’t medical experts ... Follow the direction of the chief medical officer, plain and simple.” But there clearly is disagreement among the scientists:
Speaking to The Globe and Mail about the benefits of masks in schools, Sick Kids CEO Ronald Cohn said, “There’s no question that masking has a protective effect as it relates to transmission. I mean we know this, and we should just really universally accept this.” Indeed, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics of more than 1.1 million students in over 3,000 schools found that, even when controlling for differences in vaccination rates and other characteristics, school districts that implemented universal masking policies had in-school transmission rates 87 per cent lower than those districts where masks were optional.
Ford's past performance on the COVID file leaves a lot to be desired. Masks can be uncomfortable. But they're a simple protective measure. It makes sense to air on the side of caution.
Image: The Toronto Star
22 comments:
"It makes sense to air on the side of caution." - I see what you did there, nice!
I can't help but conclude that dropping all the public health mandates is a response to the truckers. That's why Ford announced it with such a long lead time - he wanted to forestall further protests.
Four times now we've seen the effects of prematurely relaxing anti-covid measures. It's not hard to predict the outcome. And when we're in the middle of another wave of hospitalizations, long-term Covid side effects and deaths, Ford will say "how could we have known?"
Cap
The truckers scared the politicians, Cap. When our leaders take their orders from nutbars, the consequences can be tragic.
I've become more and more cynical about politicians in general and certain parties in particular, Owen. With respect to the general needs of most Canadian families in general, they, as a group, are so darn far behind, they actually think they are first!
With respect to the pandemic, they've been all over the map (today we'll do this, tomorrow we'd think we'll do that) or just knee-jerk it as they limp along in la la land.
With respect to adequate housing for all these immigrants they're bringing in to fill minimum wage jobs, they haven't even got a clue as to where these folks can even put a roof over their heads. At one time, immigration was a planned event, bringing skills etc. for areas that had a need. Now? They get dumped into the nearest city or where there is already has a significant similar culture and the local community has to figure it out.
From my perspective, the plan is there is no plan! and we are now realizing the results of this stupidity.
Frankly, Lulymay, the brightest among us view politics as a cynical game. And they're right.
I'm sorry Owen but the difference between Ford and the common or ordinary nutbar escapes me.
This unmasking strikes me as something similar to stopping taking your antibiotics halfway through the course of treatment because you feel a bit better.
What I find so astounding, Owen, is how quickly Kieran Moore fell into line with Ford's politics. Is there something in the job description of Chief Medical Officer of Health that requires the surrender of personal and medical integrity?
They're rolling the dice again. I was a bit startled to see an unmasked guy in a local grocery store. Then I went to a second store where half the staff were also unmasked. I'll give that second store a pass while we see how this plays out.
That's a good analogy, jrk. It's magical thinking.
Good question, Lorne. The closer they get to the center of power, the more pliable Ford's advisors become.
One of our sons lives and works in China, Mound. When COVID hit, they locked down hard. They've locked down again to deal with OMICRON. There is a story there. But, over here, we've tuned it out.
Been listening to Mayo Clinic update on covid: Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 update https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggS0exC-0a4
Some interesting points:
Hong Kong, China, UK, Ireland, Denmark saw surges again as soon as they took masks off.
January 29, only 1% of covid cases in US were caused by BA-2 variant. By February 6 , 3.6%. Today, March 14, it’s 12%. In New York and New Jersey it’s 17%. It looks to be 30 to 60% more transmissible but not more severe.
Wastewater testings in New York City are showing some very unusual sequences that not seen before. Are these from animals or humans?
Nice to get some hard data without the usual giant swamp of emotion. Relaxed yet informative video.
Anyway it suggests caution on relaxing restrictions, especially masks. All Ford is thinking about at the moment is that election in June.
Nova Scotia is barrelling down the same useless path as that intellectual giant Douglas Ford proclaims. No masks or any restrictions as of next Monday. Apparently nobody reads Euronews and the Omicron BA2 variant hammering Europe. Germany has its highest case counts ever, and Denmark is worse, while the UK is awful, but being run by the Tory Bozo Bojo, they've decided to just forget about Covid, that it even exists. Screw the people, let the deniers win, seems to be policy in the West. Long Covid? "Never heard of it," says Boris after his fourth G&T of the morning. "Hic. I'm not breaking any rules now! Hic."
The Infectious Diseases Specialist from Dalhousie University, Dr Lisa Barrett, often seen on national TV in the past two years, and the person responsible for Canada's best Covid testing regime until it was all abandoned in December by the province, has caught Covid herself. She looks none-too-good responding to local TV outlet reporters. She cannot work out how she caught it, so says Omicron is so obviously endemic anyone can get it anywhere. But NS Public Health has decided not to publish any stats of note, so we don't even know the PCR test positivity rate, although it's rumoured to be over 20%. Keep people in the dark is the latest Public Health response. What you don't know can't kill you, eh? Heh,heh. That's science in 2022, folks. From hero to zero, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Strang. He folded like wet cardboard these past few months and now utters rote nonsense. Needless to say, Dr Barrett is NOT a fan of removing masks and restrictions this coming Monday the 21st. How the once very good professional relationship between Strang the new giver-upper and Barrett the tester now is, I'd like to know. They used to sing each other's praises. Not any more.
Anyway, as of Monday, any damn fool can sneeze on me in public, and anyone over 60 or under 5 has to grin and bear the might of the folly. Thanks so much ... Who in hell is driving this premature voyage to hell, I'd like to know. It is not clear to me at all who the primary dumbbells are who are telling government(s) to throw caution to the four winds with that infamous BS tagline: "We've got to learn to live with Covid." We do? The Chinese aren't.
Some of our leaders believe that national patience is wearing thin, ffd. So they'll get ahead of the curve -- and things will get worse.
I agree, Bill. It's not clear Who is driving this folly -- but it is folly.
Geez … I can’t wait for Ontario’s “Best Election Ever!”
UU
It's only about two and a half months away, UU.
Two and a half months. That's plenty of time to see if Covid turns Ontario into a Petri dish.
Here in the southern part of Alberta, no one except me wearing a mask. My Korean friend called Sunday past and said there is another out break in China and the area where located is locked down … no one in, no one out…that has been their attitude from the beginning of Covid. Does that say China does care about its population? I know caring was a prime concern when I was there. Whether it was for the wrong reason or not, it showed. Anyong
Ford appears confident that he's going to win, Mound. Confidence and wisdom are not synonyms.
China takes COVID seriously, Anyong. I'm not sure we do.
As usual Owen the great expert Dad that rules us - Douggie has conquered Covid, by abolishing testing - no tests no Covid and yet we all know people who are getting it daily.
However are we not worried by the under fives who, unmasked and not socially distanced who bring the virus home in droves.
The idea of not masking in schools is criminal and I hope, in a macabre sort of way, that the next round of uncounted but well known cases will reach us, as it has done in the UK and Denmark, in a big way during the next election period.
It would be poetic justice, Ben, if the chickens came home to roost precisely in the middle of the election.
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