Masks: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Maddy Ehrlich

There is brain shattering news all across New York, affecting not just Niskayuna, but also many more school districts. After long years of remote school and school with masks, COVID-19 restrictions seem to be coming to a tentative end. As of March 2, masks will no longer be required in public schools. 

The idea of having no mask on your face when you’re in public used to be unthinkable, but now, in Niskayuna and the world more people are making their opinions known on the situation regarding mask mandates. 

With the gradual decline of Omicron and Covid cases, people are pushing to rethink mask requirements. On February 10, New York rid itself of the indoors mask mandate, yet schools were still exempt from this new adjustment. However, on February 27, a day that will probably be remembered by all of us, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that masks won’t be required in public schools either.  

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy sparked a huge controversy by revealing a plan to remove mask mandates in schools starting 2 weeks into March. This paved the way for other states to follow the trend of removing school mask mandates. For example, Delaware and Oregon both said they will join the slowly increasing group of states which have made the decision to lift the mask mandate in schools. The CDC recently gave their okay for removal of masks in schools as long as cases are low, encouraging these new lax regulations. One by one it seems schools are removing their mandate, including ours, however we don’t know yet how this will affect case numbers.

On February 1, at a school board meeting, student Miles Volo went up to the podium in order to address the board. He took his mask off immediately, leading to him being told to put it back on. This caused problems right away, with him standing at the podium for three minutes, not reading his notes. He represents the side that believes mask mandates are no longer needed. As he puts it, “Every parent or guardian should be able to choose what is right for their children regarding masking in schools.”

Niskayuna High School's Crossroads, is always alive with activity. But with the crowd that emerges every time the bell rings, comes the need for teachers to enforce the mask mandate rules. As of March 2, this will no longer be enforced by the school, as per the state's decision. Before winter break, when the mask mandate was still in place, one of these faculty members, Mrs. Linda Borges was able to inform me a little more about what she has had to do during the pandemic. 

Q.) What are your opinions regarding mask mandates?

A.) On the side of safety, I saw a lot of pandemics in my time and I feel what we are doing right now is the best thing we can do. Maybe in the future, like in the first week of March, we can take our masks off. 

Q.) What are some challenges when you need to monitor people wearing masks at crossroads?

A.) My  job is to remind them to put their mask over their nose, rarely do I see people wearing masks all the way down, if I do it's because they’re eating. 

Q.) With the decreasing number of cases how has that affected students wearing masks? 

A.) They're freer outside, freer in the cafeterias, I think they’re looking forward for this to be over.

In New York State mask mandate issues were increasing frequently, ultimately leading up to Governor Hochul’s decision to remove masks in schools. One case was in October where students and parents went against the Commissioner of Health for New York State, arguing that mask mandates violate the first amendment of the Constitution. Federal Judge Lawrence E. Kahn decided in favor of the defendant, therefore keeping mask mandates in school. This was in the middle of Omicron, which influenced his decision.

When interviewing him before the mandate was lifted, I was able to see why he made his decision at the time when Covid was at a high. Judge Kahn talked about the parents trying to overrule the mask mandate. When wondering why he decided in favor of masks, he explained that he needed to see if it was against the constitution. As he puts it, he doesn't make laws like the legislature and regulations by the governor, but interprets and reviews them to see if they’re constitutional. If the governor makes regulations that are in favor of the welfare of citizens, he said he will not oppose them. When asked if he would change his decision now if the parents came back to court, he explained how he would have to review the decision if the situation changes. An example he explained was if the pandemic was determined to be over and the governor didn’t lift the mask mandate, he would have to review that and see if it was now unconstitutional. Today, some people are trying to argue that  the presence of COVID-19 has decreased, concluding that we don’t need mask mandates.

Mask mandates affect everyone: if one person doesn’t wear a mask, it affects anyone around them. The mask mandate issue will continue because COVID-19 is still fluctuating, so people’s opinions will too. When you look around and see your friends and classmates wearing masks in schools, it feels normal, but now that's changing. However, our health is still at risk, and it is yet to be seen how the loosening of restrictions will impact us. A symbol of COVID-19, masks have become a part of our life—something you grab everyday before you leave for the bus. However now, the mandates may be gone for good.