Huge Number? We are finding a couple dozen being fired for being unvaccinated out of thousands of hospital workers in local healthcare systems with vaccine mandates.
A good move --- but an expensive one. Would U.S. schools be willing to fund this solution? I should also note that schools in Denmark and Europe shut-down and go remote when the local community spread level goes to high (above 5% positive test rate). Most U.S. counties are well above 10% positive test rate currently.
Masks are not used in most European schools -- because masks are not critical when the local community spread level is low. In Europe, most schools close & go remote when the local community spread level rises beyond low. This is different than the U.S. where we have students in classrooms with very high community spread levels. Masks are the only option for slowing spread in the classroom and keeping schools open for in person learning. As noted in this thread -- over 1000 U.S. K-12 schools have closed due to Covid in a mere few weeks. Nearly all of these schools had one thing in common -- they started the school year without requiring masks. In-person learning is important -- and more beneficial to students than remote learning. Masks are a powerful tool for keeping in-person learning going for as long as possible in face of high community spread.
Its because they know masks do harm to kids and they are not abunch of selfish fucks... they care about kids enough to do a study and release the results 3000 person control... 3000 mask wearer... statistical identical result.
First note -- I already stated that masks were not generally used in Europe However each country in Europe sets their own standards. Some, like Germany, has each region/state set their own standards for schools and mitigation measures. Generally most countries are following WHO & EU guidance for schools. For the most part -- masks are not being used in schools in Europe since masks are not required when community spread is low AND the schools in Europe go remote when community spread rises above low. This -- once again -- is very different situation than the U.S. where community spread is currently high everywhere and we are trying to hold in-person K-12 classes in an environment where Covid cases are common.
I know you stated masks were not generally used in Europe when spread levels are "low". So when spread levels are "high" (subjective terms) and schools don't close (they don't always close, so don't make shit up) do they wear masks? And why, if they don't wear masks, don't the situations get out of control? Don't masks prevent the spread?