Mask Mandates Are Not Harming Childhood — Your Intransigence Is

We can breathe while wearing masks. This is a scientific truth. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Respiratory Public Health examined how both cloth and surgical masks affect athletic performance, revealing that young, healthy participants experienced no arterial oxygen desaturation; they could still breathe comfortably. These were individuals undergoing a “cycle ergometry test to exhaustion.” Fortunately, second grade does not include such a test. However, it also shouldn’t involve risking Grandma’s health due to the Delta variant. Mask mandates aren’t disrupting childhood; your unwillingness to follow basic Covid precautions is what’s harming it.

Since around March 2020, my kids have only left our property wearing masks, and their childhood experiences have been negatively affected by those who refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the pandemic, leading to continued restrictions on their social interactions. They’ve just had to adjust again due to the Delta variant.

I’m watching closely those who oppose mask mandates: the overlap between those against masks and those against Covid vaccinations is essentially a complete circle. You are the individuals forcing me to navigate Target like it’s a game of Frogger, avoiding crowds of the unmasked. You are the ones refusing the vaccine despite the staggering Covid death toll that has surpassed that of World War II. You’re the ones holding “Free the Smiles” rallies and spreading misinformation about the supposed dangers of prolonged mask use.

Yes, I just labeled a sitting Congresswoman “obstinate.” However, she’s previously equated mask mandates with the Holocaust, which adds another layer of insensitivity to her stance.

Mask Mandates Protect YOU, Seriously

My kids wear masks everywhere. They run in circles with masks on during the summer, and we would be living in a disease-ridden swamp if not for vaccines that have eradicated illnesses like yellow fever in the United States.

We could significantly improve Covid rates in our country using vaccines. We have one available. However, those who refuse to use it are contributing to the ongoing spread of Covid. Without a mask mandate, children like Madison and Aiden might contract the Delta variant from another child and unknowingly bring it home to vulnerable family members. If you’re complaining about mask mandates, you likely haven’t been vaccinated.

Imagine an entire family falling ill with Delta (and no, I’m not talking about an airline; I mean the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus). Do you want Covid? Covid isn’t a casual acquaintance asking you to hang out; it can invade your body, settle in your lungs, and lead to severe outcomes.

Yes, it can be fatal. Just ask those who have lost their lives to it.

Mask Mandates Protect Children

Covid can indeed impact children. Columbia, South Carolina, has run out of ICU beds due to an influx of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. “We are seeing the effects of the second surge of Covid here at the Children’s Hospital more profoundly than we did during the first,” said Dr. Sarah Thompson, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, which is composed of experts with advanced qualifications regarding children’s health, reports that one-third of children hospitalized due to Covid end up in the ICU. Yes, while children can be asymptomatic, they can also become severely ill.

Do you want your child in the ICU? When you throw a fit over mask mandates, you’re essentially saying you don’t care if they do. What truly disrupts childhood includes intubation, hospital stays, and death—none of which relate to wearing a mask.

How Difficult Is It?

Let’s get to the point: what does it cost you and your children to wear masks and keep others safe? It’s just a piece of fabric covering your face. No one is asking your child to attend school in full hazmat gear. Nobody wants to return to the chaos of virtual teaching—admit it, you don’t either.

It’s just cloth. If your glasses fog up a bit, you can adjust them. Why is that too much to ask? We’ve shown that masks are safe (if you think they’re unsafe, you’ve likely been misled). Can you not encourage your child to wear a mask to potentially save lives?

No? Then you’re teaching your kids to be selfish and unhelpful. During World War II, our grandparents made sacrifices—skimping on meat and using ration cards for basic supplies. They went without coffee.

You can’t even ask your kids to wear a simple piece of cloth over their faces.

Your Kid’s Childhood Is Fine

Virtual schooling disrupts childhood. Not interacting with other kids disrupts childhood. Masks? Not really.

Covid disrupts childhood. Losing family members disrupts childhood. Masks are available in fun designs, like Baby Yoda.

Mask mandates not only save lives but also protect kids who choose to wear masks from being bullied by those who think wearing one is uncool. Yes, that happens.

So please stop with the “Save the Smiles” rallies. Your refusal to mask has created this situation. We could have contained the pandemic with basic precautions, but many have chosen not to. You must live with the consequences. Because, like children, you seem unable to make informed public health decisions, those consequences should include a mask mandate.

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Summary:

Mask mandates are essential for protecting children and the community from Covid-19. They are a small ask compared to the potential consequences of ignoring safety measures. The refusal to wear masks and get vaccinated is what truly disrupts childhood, not the mandates themselves.