Letter to the letter – August 30, 2021

Dear editor,

Every year, across the nation, we take preliminary action to protect our children in public schools by having children from pre-K through high school practice active shooter drills so they’re ready for the extremely slim chance that someone will come to their school with a gun. 

Right now, there is an actual threat to our children, and we aren’t doing anything about it. It’s not a chance or a possibility that COVID-19 will come into our schools. It’s a fact. And yet, we’re doing nothing to protect our children from this very real danger. Across the nation, pediatric ICUs are filling up with COVID-19 patients. Cases among children are skyrocketing. Thousands upon thousands of children have been exposed to this virus — currently as contagious as polio and smallpox — which can have long-term health effects or even be fatal. And yet, we do nothing.

But there is a very simple measure we can and should take to protect our children and our community. Require masks in school, for educators, staff, and students. The science is very clear that masks are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. 

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