The New York State Supreme Court recently ruled against mask mandates in public spaces, prompting some schools to enact mask-optional policies.  As a result, a debate has been sparked within the district on whether or not Port Washington should follow suit.  Currently, the mask mandate is set to stay in place for a few weeks, as COVID-19 cases begin to dwindle.

The case for mandatory masks is clear because the risks associated with allowing for optional mask-wearing are simply too great.  Many students, vaccinated or not, will take advantage of this policy.  Here lies a danger.  There is a considerable population of high-risk people, who may contract COVID-19 through other people’s carelessness; those at-risk individuals could suffer the most severe consequences from the virus. 

“I think masks should still be mandatory.  I’ll still wear mine,” said freshman Mailynn Betanco.

The CDC guidelines, which the school district must follow, still recommend that fully-vaccinated individuals wear their masks indoors in public places to maximize protection against the spread of the coronavirus.  To ignore the CDC, even legally, would set a dangerous precedent that public schools can ignore nationally advised protocols when making decisions.

“I think we should keep on wearing them, it’s not about your political views, it’s more about keeping other people safe,” said freshman Evelyn Escobar.

Just one person without a mask creates an unsafe environment for everyone, let alone for the hundreds of students tightly packed in the school hallways when moving between classes or exiting the building at the end of the day.  In a study conducted by the CDC, schools in Arizona’s most populous counties were found to be 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks if masks were not required.  Another study found that during the first two weeks of the school year, schools with enforced mask policies had a lower rate of case transmission than schools with mask-optional guidance.

“I think that masks should be optional for students that are vaccinated, and if a student is not wearing their mask, a teacher should be able to ask them for proof of vaccination.  Everyone has a different level of comfort with mask-wearing, but I feel that making masks optional would be an important step to making the world normal again,” said freshman Ryann Engel.

Removing masks when it is safe is crucial for a return to a normal world, but now is not the time.  Making masks optional will simply prolong the pandemic, pushing back the length of time until we are able to do away with masks entirely.  

“COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to decline across the United States.  As of Feb. 2, 2022, cases are down 53.1% from their peak on Jan. 15.  However, community transmission is still high nationwide,” said the CDC.  

COVID-19 transmission will only rise if students are allowed to go without their masks.

There should be no question; masks are safe and effective, and they drastically reduce the spread of COVID-19.  A randomized large-scale study conducted by Stanford Medicine and Yale University concluded that masks are effective in reducing the spread of the virus.  

There are already hundreds of regulations that we adhere to every day, including several vaccination requirements.  Being that the COVID-19 vaccine is not one of them, mask mandates are a close second.  Similarly, seatbelts and hundreds of other laws are legally mandated for the sake of the greater good, just as wearing a mask is a selfless move that protects those at risk around you.

It is hard to make the case that wearing masks is a burden for those who can do so safely.  Furthermore, there is no valid medical evidence that wearing a mask hurts a child physically.  In a study published by the Annals of Thoracic Society, it was revealed that masks do not restrict airflow or cause a dangerous build-up of oxygen. 

It is everyone’s responsibility to protect those who are disabled, elderly, or otherwise vulnerable to COVID-19.  If that necessitates a mask mandate, so be it.  The evidence is clear: a mask mandate must remain in place for the greater good.