COVID Case Rise, Changing Masking Policies Cause Concern, Frustration
May 09, 2022 09:47AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Update: On May 9, MBUSD Superintendent John Bowes confirmed that the new masking policy and recommendations will be:
- Individuals within 6 feet of a positive case for 15 minutes or more during a 24 hour period will continue to be required to mask for 10 days and test on days 3-5; and
- Individuals within the same shared indoor airspace as a positive case for 15 minutes or more during a 24 hour period will be recommended, but not required, to mask for 10 days and test on days 3-5.
A rise in COVID cases in the schools - and multiple changes in the county-wide masking policy for close contacts - has caused both concern and frustration in Manhattan Beach.
Currently both Mira Costa High School and Manhattan Beach Middle School meet the county's criteria for a COVID outbreak. As of Friday, May 6, there were 57 student cases and one staff case at
Manhattan Beach Middle School (representing 4.2% of the site
population); and there were 77 student cases and 4 staff cases at Mira
Costa High School (representing 3% of the site population).
COVID has also been on the rise in schools across Los Angeles County, where the number of cases among students and staff more than quadrupled
between March 27 and April 24, according to the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health.
Although many cases are mild - and hospitalizations are down - the LACDPH has responded with more restrictive protocols to contain the spread of the virus in schools.
LACDPH late last month created a policy that defined close contacts as those being in the same classroom as a confirmed case, and requiring those close contacts to mask for 10 days.
LACDPH late last month created a policy that defined close contacts as those being in the same classroom as a confirmed case, and requiring those close contacts to mask for 10 days.
Following an outburst of confusion and complaints, the county then came out with a further update to the policy on May 5 that would allow schools the option of defining a close contact as someone who was only within 6 feet of a confirmed case indoors for more than 15 minutes, and that others in the classroom would have a "strong recommendation" for masking.
Nevertheless, the rapid succession of policy changes have left parents and students - and school administrators - concerned and frustrated.
The latest guidance from LACDPH represented the third set of rules and guidelines that the district had received over May
3, 4, and 5, MBUSD Superintendent John Bowes told MB News. "We are working to review the [newest] option, and will be making
announcements about any change in protocols
early in the week," said Bowes.
Cases on the Rise, Mask Policy Changes for Close Contacts
According to LACDPH, the increase in cases at schools can most likely be attributed to reduced indoor masking plus spring travels and end-of-year special events.
At the end of April, LACDPH set new county-wide protocols that changed the definition of a close contact to include “anyone in the same indoor airspace” for 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour period. Under those rules, those who were exposed to someone by being within the same shared indoor air space (such as a classroom) were required to:
- Wear a mask at all times for 10 days when indoors around others, except when eating or drinking.
- Get tested between days 3 and 5 or, if that timeline has passed, as soon as possible.
- Monitor their health for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
New Policy Difficult to Implement
Nevertheless, the close contact masking policy had proved extremely difficult to implement, as it required administrators to monitor which students needed to be wearing masks and for how long, and it required the cooperation of students and parents.
"I
have heard frustrations from many of you about these developments," wrote MBUSD Superintendent John Bowes in an email to parents on Friday. "We
appreciate your partnership as we work to meet these new requirements,
including determining which students are required to use a face covering
while indoors and which are not, ensuring that those who are required
to wear a mask are doing so consistently, tracking test results
submitted by parents, and ensuring good communication about start and
end dates for these various requirements."
Added Bowes: "We
have asked for guidance that is more practical and reasonable for
schools and that makes sense given the current status of the virus and
our high vaccination rates. In the meantime, please help us to comply
with LACDPH’s requirements. As a public agency, we are obligated to
follow these new protocols while we advocate for the implementation of
common sense rules and guidelines."
On Thursday, a student at Mira Costa
refused to wear a mask when instructed; the student was moved by staff and administrators to an
empty room. That action resulted in some parents staging a protest outside Mira Costa later that afternoon.
Bowes confirmed with MB News: "If a student refuses to comply with Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health rules, which include wearing a
mask at school while indoors in certain circumstances under LACDPH
close contact guidelines, the
school will contact their parent/guardian to pick them up from school.
In such circumstances, students must wait in a health office, quarantine
room or similar supervised location until the parent or guardian arrives."
Cases Cause Beauty and the Beast Cancellations
With multiple cast and crew members testing positive, and with overlapping case dates and requirements for quarantine, the show had to be cancelled.
(The dismantling of the Beauty and the Beast set - Photo via Mira Costa Drama/Tech Department.)
Furthermore, to the extreme disappointment of the cast and crew, the show could not be moved to a later date. Multiple aspects of the production could not be extended, such as costume and equipment rentals, and the auditorium space (which was used for AP testing following the show dates) had already been reserved for other activities.
MBUSD families should look for updated guidelines on masking and close contacts early this week.
