To the SMSD Board

We appreciate your continued leadership and focus on empirically validated mitigation approaches to COVID19. 

We understand that –

Masks are effective in reducing the spread of COVID19. (1–3)

Rules around mask wearing increase compliance, reduce stigma, increase the chances of other protective behaviors, and protect those among us most vulnerable. (4)

In person school, while likely beneficial for children, concurrently increases the risk of COVID19 spread and infections in the community (5).

Newer variants (e.g. b.1.1.7, b.1.617) of COVID19 have been found to be more contagious and dangerous for children than previous variants (6)

No one (with the possible exception of teenagers with braces) enjoys wearing a mask (this doesn't really need a reference, does it?)

These facts, taken in totality, lead us to support your continued regulations around mask wearing as a way to protect our students, our families, and our community.

References cited above:

1.            Zhang K, Vilches TN, Tariq M, Galvani AP, Moghadas SM. The impact of mask-wearing and shelter-in-place on COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States. Int J Infect Dis IJID Off Publ Int Soc Infect Dis. 2020;101:334-341. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.10.002

2.            Howard J, Huang A, Li Z, et al. An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021;118(4). doi:10.1073/pnas.2014564118

3.            Tabatabaeizadeh S-A. Airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the role of face mask to prevent it: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res. 2021;26(1):1. doi:10.1186/s40001-020-00475-6

4.            Betsch C, Korn L, Sprengholz P, et al. Social and behavioral consequences of mask policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020;117(36):21851-21853. doi:10.1073/pnas.2011674117

5.            Courtemanche CJ, Le AH, Yelowitz A, Zimmer R. School Reopenings, Mobility, and COVID-19 Spread: Evidence from Texas. National Bureau of Economic Research; 2021. doi:10.3386/w28753

6.            Santos JC, Passos GA. The high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 is associated with increased interaction force between Spike-ACE2 caused by the viral N501Y mutation. bioRxiv. Published online January 1, 2021:2020.12.29.424708. doi:10.1101/2020.12.29.424708