As more students began to return for face-to-face learning, schools became battlegrounds for mask mandates. But as COVID-19 cases dwindle, U.S. state and local authorities have begun revoking mask policies.
Schoolchildren from California, Oregon and Washington it will no longer be necessary use masks under the new policies starting next week. Virginia and New York are lowering their requirements this week.
CBS News spoke with four mothers from Virginia about the difficulties they have faced during the pandemic. CBS Evening News presenter and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell was told that they had made different decisions about using masks for their families, but they all agreed that raising parents is not easy. a pandemic.
Two of the mothers said their children will continue to wear masks, while one said it was okay if their children unmasked, but their daughter has decided to wear a mask. The fourth mother said her son was excited about not having to bring one to school.
“It’s a pretty easy decision for us,” Christina Headrick said. “The classrooms are packed and we know the school buildings aren’t very well ventilated. I asked my kids, ‘Do you want to keep wearing a mask if it’s an option?’ that we want “.
Saranga Blaser said her daughter asked her if she should stop wearing a mask. “And she said,‘ Yeah, I don’t feel safe taking off my mask right now, ’” Blaser said.
Miranda Turner said her eldest daughter, who has had COVID, did not want to get sick or spread the virus again, but her daughter also mentioned that she found solace in wearing a mask.
“I take a break as a parent as to how much it takes to feel responsible for whether or not other people have a virus,” Turner said.
Courtney Mooney said her family has been around other families unmasked for much of the pandemic to give their children a sense of normalcy.
“I think my son has had a great time about it, in so many ways,” Mooney said. “He’s very excited about not being able to wear a mask to school. He loves to make people smile.”
The pandemic was difficult for Mooney’s 10-year-old son, the only child, because most days he was isolated from other children, he said.
Mooney also said he had problems with inconsistent COVID policies, such as that public spaces such as restaurants and retailers are optional with masks in many areas, while schools have had mask mandates.
“For some reason, we’ve decided that school is the only place where kids don’t have the freedom and flexibility,” Mooney said.
COVID vaccines, which are available for people 5 years of age and older, have also changed the calculation for some.
“Things have changed drastically. We have a widely available vaccine. We have high-quality masks that kids can wear if they want to protect themselves. And I think things are very different,” Turner said.
Blaser said wearing a mask feels like a normal part of everyday life.
“For me, it’s become so normal,” he said. “My kids would be so scared to take off their seat belts while I was driving as they would be to take off their masks inside.”
Although mothers have different opinions, each acknowledged that they are trying to make the best decisions for their families as they navigate the pandemic.
“I think one thing we have in common is the amount of stress that is put on parents,” Blaser said.
It may not be so easy to recognize these commonalities because people have been isolated during the pandemic, Turner said.
“The pandemic also isolated us all from each other,” Turner added. “So all these conversations aren’t happening organically on the football field or at the PTA meeting. You can’t have a side conversation and realize you have one thing in common here or there.”
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