Did masks really help slow COVID-19 spread in schools?

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Heidi Przybyla
@HeidiNBC
Big NIH study:

“Schools with mandatory masking during the delta surge had approximately 72% fewer cases of in-school transmission of COVID-19 when compared to schools with optional or partial masking policies,” according to the study.

newsnationnow.com
Did masks really help slow COVID-19 spread in schools?
Schools with mandatory masking during the Delta surge had approximately 72 percent fewer cases of in-school transmission of COVID-19 when compared to schools with optional masking policies, accordi…
8:54 AM · Mar 12, 2022

https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/coronavirus/did-masks-really-help-slow-covid-19-spread-in-schools-study-says/

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) — Some skeptical parents and anti-mask advocacy groups questioned the necessity of forcing students and teachers to wear masks for the majority of the 2021-22 school year.

Did masks really help slow the spread of COVID in classrooms?

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health released Thursday found that mandatory masking during the delta variant surge was critical for slowing down the transmission of infections.

“Schools with mandatory masking during the delta surge had approximately 72 percent fewer cases of in-school transmission of COVID-19 when compared to schools with optional or partial masking policies,” according to the study.

The delta variant surged in August 2021, just as schools welcomed back students for the new school year.

The study included more than 1.1 million students and over 157,000 staff members attending in-person learning at schools across nine states: California, Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kansas.

*snip*

[kentuck]

1. If not, how negligent would it have been not to try it?

Maybe the vaccines did nothing to help control the spread of the virus?

We did it all for nothing?

[Freddie]

2. Of course it did

Plus my grandkids got no colds or stomach bugs the past 2 years. Schools just went mask-optional but their mom (a nurse) is still having them go to school masked.

[tavernier]

13. I work at a high school and approximately a third of the kids are still masked and all of their empl

And this is in Florida, by choice.

And yes at age 75 I have not had a cold in two years either.

[barbaraann]

3. Here's the statistic I would like to see:

What percentage of expensive private or religious schools where wealthy republicans send their kids required masks?

[gratuitous]

4. 72% fewer cases seems like a significant difference to me

It's been a long time since I took Statistics from Professor Fricke, but I'll go out on a limb with my title assertion.

Naturally, we'll hear from the Nitwit Brigade how it was "only" a 72% reduction in cases and not 100%, so wearing masks is less than useless. Toss in some "natural immunity" ravings, some poorly-understood or just plain bad theology, and a heaping helping of stubborn ignorance, and this study can be shelved as far as the popular media are concerned.

[WhiteTara]

5. it was proven in Arkansas

No wonder the Qs are against it.

[llmart]

6. A better question is...

did any child die or be physically harmed from wearing a mask in school?

[SheltieLover]

7. Kicking for visibility

Yup!

[Mr. Evil]

8. I get the flu every year like clockwork.

But, for some reason the last 2 years not even a hint of the flu. Hmmm... must be this mask I've been wearing.

I still wear mine while out in public and probably will continue to do so. I really like NOT getting the flu.

[Shrike47]

9. I haven't had the flu or even a cold since we started masking. Hmmm, any correlation?

[GPV]

10. Our school is now mask optional. So interesting to see who kept them on. It seems like the very

youngest and very oldest went the most mask free, with the youngest being completely without. Maybe 3/5s for masks in my particular 6th grade room.

I'm keeping mine for now. Variants make me nervous, and masks may be my only protection. If the absentee list doesn't quadruple again as during the last surge, I might consider going without. I won't lie, the warmer it is the more I hate the masks.

[spanone]

11. K&R

[Fla Dem]

12. The answer is YES, unless you believe anything coming out of the NIH is just Liberal Propaganda.NT

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. I am sill wearing my mask

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

15. I've heard a few non-RW sources recently make comments

suggesting some new evidence has come out proving that masks don't really help stop the spread of COVID. Colbert, just a night or two ago, and SNL a week or so ago. I haven't seen any reports from reputable sources to that effect, so it's puzzling.

What did I miss?

I would hate to learn that the RW maskholes were right, but I'm willing to accept that if evidence based. Nevertheless, if it was uncertain, I still say it was a small sacrifice to try to keep one another safe.