District Covid Policy

One Minute Later...

“Safety” guidelines lack safety

District’s COVID guidelines defy logic, put school at risk

Nate Albin albinnat000@hsestudents.org

Did you know that COVID-19 goes away a er 3 p.m.? According makes it clear that masks in school work - but only if they are actually used. e o cial to HSE School’s policy on masking, it does. Four months into the school year, the district has only seen one major COVID policy shi . Ever since the school added the mask mandate two weeks into school, it has been smooth sailing so far; however, there are some major red ags in the district’s health policies that could spell trouble later. e school policy gives the impression that spreading the virus is not an issue a er 3 p.m. because the district policy says that masks only need to be worn “during the school day.” If you take a lap around FHS a er school, it quickly becomes evident that this policy truly means masks only need to be worn during school hours. All over the building a er hours, many do not wear masks, and, technically, they are not doing anything wrong. e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC recommendation is for “universal indoor masking by students, sta members, faculty, and visitors in kindergarten through grade 12 (K - 12) schools, regardless of vaccination status.” ey found that schools that do not properly mask up are 3.5 times more likely to have a widespread COVID outbreak. ose updated policies also include some aspects that seemingly have not been implemented at all. According to the policy, it is the “expectation” that students wash their hands when entering the building, exiting the building, before meals and during restroom breaks. e rst three expectations have not been made clear or enforced while the last one is still an issue at times. Passing periods were supposed to be a ected by the updated policy. However, early on this year as we reacclimated to 100% in-person school, the hallways were as packed as ever before. If there have been any “measures to lessen congestion in hallways and improve conditions for social distancing” as policies require, they are not working. We are at a possible in ection point. Winter is coming. NPR reports that hospitals are worried about another devastating winter a er over 250,000 Americans died of COVID last winter. Despite there being some cautiously optimistic forecasts for this winter, hospitals are concerned with unvaccinated populations, a strong u season, possible COVID variants and overall unpredictability. For our school, this means enforcement needs to sti en up guidelines so we can remain in-person. No one wants to go back to virtual, and the only way to try to counter the unpredictability outside of the building with the pandemic is to have smart, enforced guidelines inside the building. And no, there is no evidence that COVID goes away because a bell rings. Comic by Nate Albin.