COVID-19 delta strain changes everything for Iowa schools

Too many of the arguments used in the ongoing debate about requiring masks in schools and about the Iowa law that prohibits masks and vaccine requirements in schools are based on a false premise. Namely, they assume our experiences from spring 2020 through spring 2021 will predict this school year.

Prior to delta, children and teens symptomatic for COVID-19 were rare and those hospitalized or dying were even rarer. We will never know how many children in Iowa were asymptomatic and infectious, as our governor failed to stand up a robust testing system, but that may have also been relatively uncommon.

The threats to teachers and to staff were predominantly from the community and from each other.

Yet despite these facts, no one should fault those schools that erred on the side of caution using masks, social distancing and distance learning. We couldn’t be sure at the time how much risk was involved, and you don’t get a do over once tragedy strikes.

The delta strain has dramatically changed the calculation and the legislative ban on mask and vaccine requirements schools couldn’t have come at a worse time. Pediatric hospitals in high community spread areas are filling up. Pediatric ICUs are filling up. Children are becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID-19 at rates far above those with earlier strains. This is also true for the parents of school-aged children. As hospitals become overcrowded, children and adults with other serious medical needs are in danger of not receiving care.

There is no scenario where prohibiting using public health approaches to prevent disease spread is ever good.

Every school that has opened recently without universal masking has almost immediately seen children with symptoms who test positive for COVID. This means quarantining staff and students. Some smaller schools in Texas have had to completely shut down.

After the quarantine period ends, if universal masking and vaccination of older children is not used, you will see it happen again and again and again. Our school systems without masks and vaccinations (where possible) will basically become community super spreader events. Masking, if done universally, works. Don’t listen to those who tell you otherwise.

There is no scenario where prohibiting using public health approaches to prevent disease spread is ever good. With delta though, it may be catastrophic, not just in the schools but in the community as well. Since our Legislature is not in session, even if it would be willing to correct the mistake and repeal the law, it can’t.

However, our governor could recognize the threat the law creates with the delta strain in our communities and make it clear that schools who choose health and safety for their students will not be punished. That would, of course, be a significant break from Gov. Kim Reynolds behavior patterns and thus seems unlikely. So, all school officials need to practice civil disobedience and test this immoral and dangerous law in court. Once again, you cannot go back and save the lives and health that are lost because you failed to do the right thing in the first place.

One final thought. We do need to find solutions for children who can’t or whose parents won’t let them wear masks, as they deserve high quality education as well. However, the solution simply can’t be going unmasked in the school setting, potentially harming themselves and others.

Gerene Denning of Iowa City is a retired infectious diseases and public health researcher.