As case numbers and hospitalizations drop to pre-omicron levels, it is time to begin easing safety protocols at Northwest Academy, including the mask requirement. Covid is here to stay, but recent low case numbers mean the school has an opportunity to experience normalcy for the first time in two years.
The state of Oregon has recently announced that it is removing all indoor masking mandates on March 12th, meaning that Northwest Academy now has the option to change its rules as well. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now placed Multnomah county in the “low risk” category, meaning that they no longer advise mask-wearing in school environments here.
Northwest Academy is uniquely suited to a mask-optional policy because of its small community and high vaccination rate. 100% of faculty and staff as well as 98% of students have at least two doses of the vaccine, which means the risk of transmission and serious illness at Northwest Academy is low compared to other schools.
The school’s current timeline is to review the outdoor mask requirement in the week of April 11th and the indoor mask requirement later in April. This is in contrast to Portland Public Schools (PPS), which is planning on removing all of its Covid mandates on March 14th. The school should take advantage of the current low Covid metrics and instead remove the requirements in March, in line with PPS’s policy.
Many are worried about people who are immunocompromised, and what they will be able to do to protect themselves once masks become optional. This is a legitimate concern, but, according to a Japanese study published in the American Society for Microbiology, N95 masks are 57% to 86% effective at protecting the wearer from the virus. And, according to The Atlantic: “If you’re vaccinated, boosted, and wearing an N95, you’re protected—no matter what others are doing.”
Throughout the pandemic Northwest Academy has relied on organizations such as the CDC and Oregon Health Authority to provide guidance, and now that they are no longer recommending masks, the school should follow their advice.
Under a mask-optional policy, people would still be fully capable of wearing a mask when they feel at risk and able to take it off when they feel safe. Individuals with health concerns have been provided the sources to protect themselves— masks and vaccines offer protection from Covid to individuals who are still worried about their health.
Because of their drawbacks, it’s unrealistic to expect masks to provide a permanent solution as we move past the worst of the pandemic. Wearing a mask obscures the mouth, making it difficult for individuals who are hard of hearing to understand what is being said. Students in dance classes struggle to perform at their best because masks restrict breathing, and vocal classes are unable to hear each other and perform as well as a unit.
Universal mask-wearing, while of vital importance earlier in the health crisis, is a blunt tool and one that is no longer necessary at Northwest Academy.
Photo by Matti Blume 2020 CC BY SA 2.0
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