More students mask off as times run on
The number of masked students is high, but slowly dropping according to an Olympian study. Since CVHS ended its mask requirement, the percentage of masked students has dropped from 95% on the first day, to 94% on March 21, to 92% after returning from spring break.
Exactly two years after CVUSD schools closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for the first time, students and staff were no longer required to wear masks indoors.
CVHS Trojans have various concerns around the change and what it may mean for their safety at school.
“I feel like I still personally want to wear my mask, but things are improving. I understand people who are taking off their masks now, as opposed to before because it genuinely feels like things are getting better,” stated senior Alaina Retodo.
“I feel like the mask mandate should still be in place because there is still Covid around and there’s even a new variant. I still wear my mask around school, but some of my friends don’t. I think not wearing it outside is understandable but we should still wear them in classrooms,” said sophomore Clare Chung.
“I understand masks off outdoors, but I don’t trust everyone else enough to be maskless indoors. I’ll keep my mask on to keep my peers, their families, and myself as safe as possible. I suggest you do the same,” said sophomore Emma Pham.
Some are hopeful about the progress in the fight against the coronavirus, but are still being cautious out of worry for others.
“Since we’re lifting the mask mandate, that’s a start to going back to normal, but it makes me nervous for populations who are more at risk,” said Biology teacher Emily Ledford.
Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi announced the end of the requirement in an emails to staff, students and families.
“As we have done the last two years, CVUSD will follow the latest guidance from the Alameda County Public Health Department related to masking. Beginning March 14, although not required, students and staff are strongly recommended to wear masks indoors at all times while at school,” wrote Ahmadi.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement announcing the end of mask mandates in California schools on Feb. 28. CVUSD has aligned with Alameda County Public Health Department and California in their decision to lift the mandate.
The school district strongly recommends, but does not require, those who are unvaccinated to continue to wear masks.
“I think it follows being respectful to other people, and if you’re not vaccinated, that’s your choice, but it would be kind to wear a mask to protect other people who could still get sick,” said Ledford.
I guess you can say that it’s a good thing that more people are deciding to take off their masks because it’s a sign that things are finally going back to normal but you could also say it’s a bad thing since it will increase the risks of getting COVID. Even though we lifted the mask mandate for schools, COVID is still spreading and with no masks it will spread even faster. You can say that it’s fine to take off your mask whenever you’re outside but I feel like it should be a requirement to at least wear your mask when you’re inside a building.
I think it is nice that people are starting to take off their masks because it shows things are getting better and hopefully things will go back to normal soon. I don’t see a reason to mandate masks so the fact that it is optional is good. If someone doesn’t want to wear a mask people shouldn’t get upset and if someone wants to keep wearing one nobody should get upset either. If there is another spike though we should take different precautions but other than that, hopefully we can get to a point wear wearing a mask doesn’t feel like a need anymore.
I agree with Clare Chung and Emma Pham. At this point, you can’t trust who and who doesn’t have Covid-19 and it would be better for someone to wear their masks indoors and let it be optional outdoors. With the summer incoming, I can theorize that a good majority of the students at CVHS will be maskless because of the growing heat during the summer. Which may result in an increase of Covid-19 at CVHS. Plus with the new variants of Covid-19 it may also result in us having to go back to a mask mandate, so we should still keep the mask mandate in place especially for those who have family members that are susceptible to getting sick. I also want to add where this data is coming from because last time I had read the article about the mask mandate being lifted there was only 300 students that were counted as for the population of CVHS.
More people taking off their masks means people feel safe enough to do so. The great majority however keeps their masks on. More people taking off their masks could mean another covid surge so it’s still important to be cautious and stay safe around campus.
Things are getting better and I’m happy about it, people are going back to normal life, but I will still wear my mask in public areas, to protect my friends and family. I don’t really care about if people are wearing their masks or not but since most of my friends are putting their masks on in public areas, I will put mine up too just to protect them.
I’m really glad to see everything starting to return to normal and our community being safe and healthy. I hope masks off doesn’t invoke another covid spike but hopefully, with the vaccine we won’t see those big numbers rise anymore. Though as we start to mask off i hope this also doesn’t increase other common disease infection rates as well.
I think that everyone should read this article to better understand the mask policy, but also their peer’s opinions about how masks should be off versus on. Because even though it is not required by law anymore it is still something to be aware of and to make sure that you are taking thoughts and precautions for yourself as well as the people around you safe.
I don’t think it is the time yet to just stop wearing masks yet. Covid is still a thing, and I still want to protect myself and my family from getting it however I can. Maybe next year or later this year if Covid has stop spiking and is no longer really an issue, I will stop wearing a mask, but for now I’m planning on keeping it on.
I understand and am very glad that things are looking up about our progress of corona, but I do believe it’s still important to wear masks. I honestly feel that it’s a common courtesy to wear them inside classrooms because some students have family that have health compromises. Meaning that catching corona could severely affect their loved ones life. One could easily argue that if that student were worried that they should’ve done this school year online, but fail to consider how many people have failed distance learning in our last school year. Just because you and your family can survive with getting the virus, doesn’t mean another family won’t. I strongly ask people who don’t wear their masks to be mindful of others.
When the mask mandate lifted, I was surprised to see how many people were still wearing their masks. I thought more would take it off. Although I still wear my mask, I sometimes want to take it off just to breathe a little more. I dislike the mask but I know that it is the right thing to do for other people. If someone in your house is at high risk for Covid, you can’t just drop out of school. It is respectful for others to continue wearing one. When continuing to wear a mask, it will make our state go back to normal even faster. Maybe next school year, we can all feel safe about coming to school without a mask on.
I’m not upset that people choose to take off their masks, especially since COVID rates are lowering. The only thing that confuses me is people’s adamancy not to wear a mask to prove that they aren’t “sheeple”. Most people who are anti-mask live in with anti-masker parents, so it’s ironic. Is it such a big deal to wear a face mask to prevent the spread to those high at risk, even if you personally don’t have COVID?
I chose to keep my mask on. I live with my grandmother and contracting COVID would put her in danger and I don’t want to be the one responsible for putting her in that position. I’m not going to lie. People without masks make me somewhat nervous. I respect their right to choose and feel comfortable, but I, personally, liked it better when everyone had their masks on. On the other hand, it has been an interesting experience to see the bottom half of people’s faces now. There are some people that look the way I expected them to, but others are totally different.
In the beginning, I would only see one or zero people having their masks off in class, but now those numbers are increasing. I personally have not removed my mask, and I’m not planning to anytime soon, but it’s good people are starting to feel more comfortable. There is still a risk of getting Covid or getting severely sick in general, I’m those types of people who get really sick even if it’s a simple cold. So I wear my mask to protect myself and my family, but also because I feel more comfortable with a mask on. Wearing a mask has been so normalized for me, it’s something I can’t simply take off.
I don’t really see an issue with students not wearing their masks. Although I still will be wearing mine I think it’s understandable that others choose not too as the mask mandate has been lifted. It’s the students choice if they want to wear their mask or not. However I do still think it’s good that over 90% of students at our school still wear their masks.
I’m glad we are all making a push through this outbreak and now starting to not wear masks. Even though I can see the health issues with not wearing a mask, we have the option to go maskless and everyone has their own different opinion, personally I think it makes it easier especially for people who hate wearing masks and people will be able to express more emotion when not wearing a mask. I definitely think safety is our number 1 priority though and we all should be safe about wearing and not wearing masks.
I’m really happy that things are finally returning back to normal, but I’m afraid this is going to cause another covid spike. I don’t really have a preference in people keeping their masks on or not, but I am choosing to keep mine on just so I do not make anybody uncomfortable.
I’m glad that we are getting a sense of normality again. However, I still hope that many people keep their masks on, at least indoors. As someone who has family members that can potentially die from getting covid, I will probably continue to keep my mask on for a long time.
I see that everyone is still cautious of Covid-19 by wearing their masks, including me. Sometimes, I feel like it is getting better from a two-year pandemic so it’s okay to not wear a mask but I realize that people remain to put their masks up in order to protect themselves and others around them.