Why are US campuses doubling down on mask mandates when they are being dropped everywhere else

Or is it that our classes are emptying out from all the students testing positive and missing class? With 25-30% out already this term, that's no joke. A lot of those students will not finish the term. Meanwhile, profs who wear masks radically reduce their chances of catching the virus. If students wore masks, they could actually stay in class, instead of catching it and sitting out for five days. And, believe you me, the ones sitting out were actually ill. Probably more are sitting in class asymptomatic and spreading it.

Most of these colleges are liberal. Big pharma probably has incentivized them with compensation as well. Many media corporations are sponsored by big pharma companies too. What a coincidence. 

Lead Foil Hat XXVII wrote:

Is it an emotional problem or just a control issue?

Where are the mask mandates being "dropped everywhere"? Our governor just extended the mask mandate INDEFINITELY. Masks are required to go class K-12 and Colleges. Anything indoors requires a mask.

My kid's school has in person classes with a masks required. Through contact tracing, they've determined that the vast majority of Covid cases in the campus community spread in social settings where masks are not worn. Very few cases arise from attendance in class, where masks are worn.

Since wearing a mask is, at worst, a minimal inconvenience, they're sticking with the mask requirement.

If you have a problem with wearing a mask, you really need to toughen up a little.

Whiskey Trail wrote:

My kid's school has in person classes with a masks required. Through contact tracing, they've determined that the vast majority of Covid cases in the campus community spread in social settings where masks are not worn. Very few cases arise from attendance in class, where masks are worn.

Since wearing a mask is, at worst, a minimal inconvenience, they're sticking with the mask requirement.

If you have a problem with wearing a mask, you really need to toughen up a little.

I realize this thread is about college students but calling masks "at worst" a minimal inconvenience is laughable.

Steve The Addict OFFICIAL -----^^^^^ wrote:

Most of these colleges are liberal. Big pharma probably has incentivized them with compensation as well. Many media corporations are sponsored by big pharma companies too. What a coincidence. 

Why would big pharma incentivize colleges to have mask mandates?

I grew up in a war torn nation and watched ~30% of my elementary school class die or drop out of school as their parents had to flee. We had class without electricity for almost a whole year.

But coddled American kids can’t wear a mask indoors? No wonder the most successful Americans were born elsewhere.

PFE wrote:

Steve The Addict OFFICIAL -----^^^^^ wrote:

Most of these colleges are liberal. Big pharma probably has incentivized them with compensation as well. Many media corporations are sponsored by big pharma companies too. What a coincidence. 

Why would big pharma incentivize colleges to have mask mandates?

To perpetuate the visual part of the fear narrative in order to sell the next round of boosters.

Whiskey Trail wrote:

My kid's school has in person classes with a masks required. Through contact tracing, they've determined that the vast majority of Covid cases in the campus community spread in social settings where masks are not worn. Very few cases arise from attendance in class, where masks are worn.

Since wearing a mask is, at worst, a minimal inconvenience, they're sticking with the mask requirement.

If you have a problem with wearing a mask, you really need to toughen up a little.

If wearing a mask is so easy why can't Democrat politicians do it?

- - If students wore masks, they could actually stay in class, instead of catching it and sitting out for five days. And, believe you me, the ones sitting out were actually ill. Probably more are sitting in class asymptomatic and spreading it.

Can you provide scientific proof/studies to back that up not the opinions of people in power. I would like to see it. What I have researched, cloth masks lessen you chance at getting Covid by a small %. N95 masks help but very few students wear them. Common sense says look at the states with the tightest Covid restrictions (NY,Ca., Mich, NJ) and compare them to states that have the least restrictions (Florida, TX, Georgia) and you will see virtually no difference in the amount of Covid cases per 100K residence and this says a lot seeing Florida has 19% of their population over the age of 65 which is the most at risk group. Oh, before I am called an anti vaxer I had the Pfizer shot in April 21 and again in May 21 booster (my choice)

Compare the number of deaths from Covid in Florida and NY from January 1, 2021 to now.

Look at the current cases state by state. Covid is effecting all 50 states. States with tough restrictions and states with the least restrictions are statistically close (Michigan vs Georgia) etc - mandates do not work. Too many people have too much incentive to keep this going .....

Optics

Look at deaths, not cases, since the vaccines became available.

It's more a function of vaccination rate, but masking and other mitigation efforts play a role as well. In particular, compare NY and Florida. Florida got absolutely hammered with deaths in 2021, much moreso than NY. And Florida's vaccination rate isn't even that bad.

Because people cried and fought getting vaccinated and we are nice enough not to fire them, so this is the next best thing to protect dumb boomer staff at these places.

Whiskey Trail wrote:

Look at deaths, not cases, since the vaccines became available.

It's more a function of vaccination rate, but masking and other mitigation efforts play a role as well. In particular, compare NY and Florida. Florida got absolutely hammered with deaths in 2021, much moreso than NY. And Florida's vaccination rate isn't even that bad.

Pretty sure this thread is about masks, not vaccines. You guys always change the subject to vaccines when you realize masks don't work.

NY, NJ, PA.....many european countries

This is my personal experience this term. COVID cases in the winter nationally will vary according to whether they are forced indoors, so that you can't just say that northern cases rose and therefore, ... In FL, you can be outside almost all of the time now. Yet, with so many students going maskless thanks to gov desantis prohibiting mask mandates this year, 30% of my students have been out already.

Hardloper wrote:

Whiskey Trail wrote:

Look at deaths, not cases, since the vaccines became available.

It's more a function of vaccination rate, but masking and other mitigation efforts play a role as well. In particular, compare NY and Florida. Florida got absolutely hammered with deaths in 2021, much moreso than NY. And Florida's vaccination rate isn't even that bad.

Pretty sure this thread is about masks, not vaccines. You guys always change the subject to vaccines when you realize masks don't work.

I don't think it's that simple. 49ers fan compared states with looser mitigation efforts and states with tighter mitigation efforts. That entails much more than just masking, and you can't discuss this without also talking about vaccines.

Anyway, to keep this a mask-only discussion, I'll leave you with this:

"Consistent use of a face mask or respirator in indoor public settings was associated with lower odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (adjusted odds ratio = 0.44). Use of respirators with higher filtration capacity was associated with the most protection, compared with no mask use."

and this:

"The findings of this report reinforce that in addition to being up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, consistently wearing face masks or respirators while in indoor public settings protects against the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection."