By Katherine Mueller
Executive Opinion Editor
Despite changing times and flattened data curves, removing the mask mandate at Mira Costa will not be for the best.
Though COVID-19 isn’t number-one on the population’s list of concerns anymore, it shouldn’t be ignored either, which is what the lifting of the school mask mandate may lean toward.
Considering the turbulent history of the COVID-19 virus, it is likely that the world will face the sprouting of new variants in the future. It’s unknown what is to come, causing some to argue to take advantage of the situation while cases are on a downward trend. However, upon the rise of a new variant or urgent need for masking, the lifting of the mandate now will make it much harder for it to be required once it is needed again.
As of March, 36 percent of the United States remains unvaccinated, according to USA Facts. Though reaching a 64 percent full vaccination rate among Americans is a great feat, those who are unvaccinated still transmit the virus and help allow for more variants to generate, according to Healthline. Though Costa has an extremely high vaccination rate among its student body, contact with unvaccinated people during extensive travel or gathering can bring the virus back to the student body.
The long-term effects of COVID-19 are still greatly unknown, and those effects have proven to be greatly unpleasant. Severe fatigue, brain fog, and sleep disorders have been proven as potential long term effects of the virus, according to NIH. Currently, information on genetic or sex linkage determining how someone will be affected by COVID-19 is minimal, and while a mild cold could be all one suffers for the time being, there could very well be side effects lurking in the future.
Abandoning masks indoors at Costa will ensure that “everyone gets COVID-19 eventually,” which is a risk that should not have to be taken by those who are respectful of others by wearing their masks.
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