I would like to start by acknowledging what a tremendous responsibility it is to determine the right course of action for the 2020-21 academic year. I know that you have the health and safety of our students and staff as your highest priority and want to do everything in your power to handle this incredible task correctly.

Some of the measures announced by Governor Cooper as required are social distancing and wearing a mask while at school. I would like to raise some questions, as well as address some concerns, regarding these measures. Policies for education should always be weighed against the very real possibility of emotional stress, psychological strain and stunted social development. I fear that preventing our children from attending school full time and imposing severe protective measures to limit physical contact will cause physical and psychological harm.

Questions regarding mask use for school children

What masks are being suggested for school use—cloth or surgical masks? Has the FDA approved any masks for use specifically by children? Do you feel it okay to follow a mandate, when no safety studies exist on mask use for children? Additionally, the WHO states that people must not touch their masks, must change their single-use masks frequently or wash them regularly, dispose of them correctly and adopt other management measures. Is it really reasonable to expect school children to never touch, move or adjust their masks during the school day? I believe that any chance of protection is negated by the very active nature of the children.

Concerns regarding mask use by children and staff

In addition to the above unanswered questions, please consider the following:

• Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

• Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.

• Surgical masks reduce oxygen.

• Nationally-recognized neurosurgeon Dr. Blaylock says in relation to masks that “a drop in oxygen (hypoxia) is associated with an impairment in immunity….This sets the stage for contracting any infection, including COVID-19 and making the consequences of that infection much graver. In essence, your mask may very well put you at an increased risk of infections and if so, having a much worse outcome.”

Concerns regarding social distancing

Social distancing concerns shared by many parents have to do with the likely emotional and psychological trauma resulting from this measure. Children are much more in touch with their emotions than adults. They have an innate urge to interact with their environment. They use not only their eyes and ears, but also their sense of touch, taste and smell. Adolescence is one of the most formative life stages. It is a time when brains are most malleable and primed for learning. During this time, beliefs are formed, skills are developed and the way children perceive themselves and how they interact with the world during this stage plays a major role in defining who they become as adults. Have you considered the fact that if our children are short-changed on opportunities to grow, learn and develop as a result of social distancing restrictions, the impact may be psychologically damaging?

Hospitalization and fatality rates

Are children at risk? Are masks and social distancing measures justifiable? Statistically, children, preteens and teens 0 to 19 years of age have a probability of recovery of 99.9577% from COVID-19 infections. The odds of developing COVID-19 increase with age, starting at age 60. (6) School children are simply not an at risk group. The measures you are choosing to enforce will not provide protection, but will cause harm. Please reconsider and allow an option for the children to return to school without any restrictions, while implementing the following measures to protect staff and students:

• Staff and students should stay home, if sick.

• Effective hand washing should be taught and utilized.

• As with other school habits, students can “catch/cover their cough” as we have been taught for years in school.

Considering the fact that children are not an at risk group for COVID-19 infection, I ask you to preserve our right to choose whether or not our children wear masks. I ask you not to mandate social distancing measures for children in school. Let’s quarantine the sick and not the healthy! Our children need to be allowed to experience these formative years without the harmful restrictions of virtual learning, masks and social distancing.

North Carolina citizens, children and adults, are being told to wear a mask whenever they are around others. I am concerned that masks are also a source of risk that needs to be weighed in contrast to their limited benefit. I ask that you preserve our right to choose whether to wear masks.

The New England Journal of Medicine states that, "Outside of a medical setting, the wearing of masks provides little, if any, protection against the transmission of disease."

Experts have outlined numerous reasons that masks could actually increase the risk of infection. They allow germs to concentrate on the mask and increase the number of times people touch their face. One large study found that moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks, and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection in health care workers wearing cloth masks.

Masks reduce oxygen and increase the risk of carbon dioxide toxicity. This is particularly concerning for people with asthma, COPD, and other respiratory issues.

Wearing a mask for long periods of time and trying to communicate with others is difficult. Adults and children alike may have difficulty interpreting facial expressions and being heard when masks are in use.

The choice to wear a mask is a personal one, and masks should not be mandated by either government or private entities. In addition, health departments should make the public aware of the risks and limitations of masks.