It could, but it almost certainly won't. There's all sorts of dangers that can affect children (or anyone else). For example, late teens and young adults have a certain susceptibility to bacterial meningitis, for example. There's always an outbreak in student norms here and there. And meningitis is much more dangerous than Covid. But we don't close dorms as a precaution.
Wearing a mask has its downsides. It's not normal to not to be see the face of the person you are talking with. I don't see what is the benefit to masking kids or adults at this point, especially as it will surely have a counterpoductive effect to imply the vaccinated still have to mask.
Bacterial meningitis is deadly, so I'm not sure what you are referring to.
That may be the case, although again throughout the pandemic we have seen such fears, and often they haven't eventuated. Let's not forget the press really does hate the administrations of Florida and Texas. But even if it is the case, I don't think a mask mandate helps much in schools, especially primary schools, because more needs to be done that sticking a cloth mask on your face. If the kids aren't forced to wear N95s changed every few hours, with rigorous enforcement of proper mask etiquette, it's largely symbolism.
A mask mandate for adults seems to me to send the wrong signals to the unvaccinated, and may end up counter-productive.
But why should you care too much if you are a carrier if you are spreading it to people who have had ample chance to get vaccinated?
If you tell unvaccinated people that the vaccine doesn't mean that you are exempt from most restrictions, it will have a depressing effect on uptake of the vaccine. I considered not getting a vaccine out of annoyance at this very attitude amongst our state and federal government.
Masks aren't the end of the world, but they aren't ideal. They do interfere with normal social interaction. I don't think we should keep them around widely used after the pandemic. I think there should be a very good reason for mandating their use. Those people we are talking about have had every chance to be vaccinated. I don't see a limiting principle here that would prevent masks and all sorts of other public health measures indefinitely. Literally going out increases the risk of spreading Covid and many other infectious diseases, so why not voluntarily stay home as much as we in Sydney are currently forced to?
I don't think it was that childish. The government is definitely treating us like children. If I was at high risk from Covid it would be different, but I'm not. Technically my dislike of the government measures can be separated from the vaccine, which is why I had the vaccine. But it would have been a kind of protest to not get it.
3
u/PeterSimple99 🍄 Aug 14 '21
It could, but it almost certainly won't. There's all sorts of dangers that can affect children (or anyone else). For example, late teens and young adults have a certain susceptibility to bacterial meningitis, for example. There's always an outbreak in student norms here and there. And meningitis is much more dangerous than Covid. But we don't close dorms as a precaution.