Masks are needed to protect children

I attended the NPSD board meeting last night which was partly a forum in which residents could voice their opinions about mask mandates in schools. Some arguments were presented logically and clearly with many good points. Two presenters (Steve Reinhart and Donna Ross) stand out as exceptional. Steve presented some alarming statistics:

“No pediatric ICU beds were available in Oklahoma; sick children are being transferred to Texas, which itself is nearing capacity. And it was reported that No ICU beds — adult or pediatric — remain in the whole state of Mississippi.” “In addition, Montgomery County and all other local counties are all now classified as being at substantial risk of community spread of Covid-19.”

This is why we need to protect ourselves and our children with masks!!

The pro mask information was booed loudly and very inappropriately shouted down by the predominance of what I assume are individual “freedom protectors” in the audience. The meetings’ attendants became increasingly disruptive and I left the auditorium feeling unsafe and worried that a fight would break out. As I walked up to the exit there was more aggressive shouting and angry heckling. Despite the repeated pleas of the board president to quiet down, the protestors were relentless. The board then quickly terminated the meeting and police were called .

In a Patch survey conducted among 13,500 Pennsylvania readers last week asking residents how they feel about masks in light of increasing COVID-19 cases and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 percent of those who responded to Patch’s non-scientific survey said they “never” wear a mask indoors in public, even more — 60 percent — said they would if cases began to surge in their area.

Obviously these folks were not well represented at the meeting. Let’s hope they show up at the next one on August 19th.