Discussion 2: Factors That Impact Population Health
Week 11 Discussion 2
NURS 8310
The Science Behind Keeping Masks Mandates in Schools
With COVID-19 rates decreasing and vaccination available for school-age children, many states are planning to lift mask mandates in schools. Are they moving too fast? The CDC did not change guidelines and continues to recommend mandatory mask mandates on school campuses to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In Anthes’s (2022) New York Times article, cultural, ethical, regulatory, and legal factors were analyzed based on public health experts’ opinions on whether it was time to remove masks in schools.
Culture and Ethical Factors
Early in the pandemic many communities didn’t think that the COVID virus would infect their town, neighborhoods, or schools, and protested wearing a mask. School mask mandates became one of the most contentious public health measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many highlighting the flaws with studies that have documented the benefits of masking in schools (Anthes, 2022). The culture of the U.S. made it difficult to demonstrate the importance of face masks with conflicting views by politicians and leaders in the community. Adopting an uptake of mandatory mask-wearing in public places such as school was and continues to be a cultural dilemma. Public health experts in the Anthes (2022) article do agree that mask mandates should not last forever but criteria for lifting them should be clearly identified by scientists.
School mandates are not just about protecting children but about reducing the spread in the community. Children may have a mild case of the virus but could pass it on to a more vulnerable parent at home. Also, many students have underlying health conditions that may put them at a higher risk for serious illness. Many public health experts agree that removing masks now during the winter months, when most interactions are indoors, can lead to an increase in school outbreaks (Anthens, 2022).
Regulatory and Legal Factors
The U.S. COVID-19 regulations and legal mitigation measures have shortcomings with inconsistent messaging and confusion with regards to mask mandates. Weakening policies by state and federal government mask lifts may have occurred too early in the pandemic. States that implemented the mask policies in 2020 then lifted them, had a difficult time reinstating them when both Delta and Omicron variance surges increased infection rate and spread of the virus. Public health experts believe that lifting school mask mandates now may also make it difficult to reimpose it in the future if there is a new surge in cases (Anthes, 2022). The experts suggest that communities will need to pay close attention to local hospitalization rates and capacity when making decisions about masking policies (Anthes, 2022).
Many states that are dropping indoor mask mandates, will adjust rules in schools for students and teachers. Some public health officials in Anthes’s (2022) article suggest that keeping these mask mandates still in place beyond when they are necessary, may risk undermining the public’s trust in health officials.
Evidence for Keeping Face Mask in Place in Schools
Evidence supports that face masks provide benefits in a variety of settings, including schools, in reducing transmission of the COVID-19 virus (Anthes, 2022). Lifting school mask mandates means that many parents will have to make a calculating decision on whether their child should continue wearing a face mask in a crowded, poorly ventilated classroom (Anthes, 2022). The CDC guidance has not changed and continues to endorse wearing facemasks in schools. Because of the highly transmissible nature of the COVID-19 virus, along with the mixing of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in schools, universal indoor masking for all on campus is recommended regardless of vaccination status ( CDC, 2022). The evidence is clear that masks decrease the spread and deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus (CDC, 2022).
Reference
Anthes, E. (2022, February 8). With mask restrictions set to lift, a haze of uncertainty lingers. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/health/covid-mask-restrictions.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html
In this Discussion, you bring together the concepts that have been presented throughout this course by analyzing a current population health topic from an epidemiological approach. Consider the cultural, ethical, regulatory, and legal factors that may influence your selected topic.
To prepare:
Review the case study, presented on page 288 of your course text, Population Health: Creating a Culture of Wellness. Consider the cultural, ethical, and legal factors presented in the case study and how they influence the Michigan Primary Care Transformation Project. With these thoughts in mind, select a current public health initiative that has been discussed in the popular press or available at the CDC website or your state’s health department website. Consider this initiative through the lens of an epidemiologist, and identify what you think are the three most important issues related to culture, ethics, regulatory, or legal aspects of the public health initiative. Consider how current health care legislation might impact your selected public health initiative. Conduct additional research as necessary.
By Day 4
Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:
Provide a summary of your selected public health initiative, and include a reference to the article (and URL to the article, if possible). Analyze the cultural, ethical, regulatory, and legal factors that influence your specified population health topic. Evaluate how current health care legislation may positively or negatively impact your selected public health initiative.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research. Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives. Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library. Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research. Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings. Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
Order Now
The post NURS 8310 Discussion 2: Factors That Impact Population Health appeared first on NursingPaperSlayers.
Comments