The Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library was full of concerned patrons Thursday morning eager to ask questions concerning masks to St. Joseph County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Mark Fox and District 7 State Representative Jake Teshka. The question and answer session was hosted by the John Glenn School Corporation facilitated by Library Director Jennifer Cygert.
John Glenn School Corporation initiated a mask requirement due to a high number of COVID-19 cases and close contacts. The requirement was put into place after the release of Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order where the close contact perimeter shrinks if masks are required at the school corporation so more students can stay in in-person instruction. During Tuesday night’s John Glenn School Board meeting, Superintendent Christopher Winchell said the number of positive cases and close contacts have greatly reduced after the requirement was enacted by the school corporation.
During Thursday’s question and answer session, patrons asked Dr. Fox, who is trained in internal medicine and pediatrics with specialty training in cardiology, if there was scientific evidence to show that masks cause harm.
“There is very good evidence that there is no physical harm associated with wearing masks except in very limited cases,” stated Dr. Fox. “Regrettably, there is evidence that some people will experience harm who have history of trauma, such as strangulation or physical assault, or who experience anxiety. In terms of social and emotional development in children, there are difficulties for people with language processing disorders and sensory disorders.”
They also expressed concern about the long-term social and emotional effects mask wearing has on children in the school setting.
Dr. Fox replied, “It is the expert opinion from people in developmental pediatrics, associated with the American Academy of Pediatrics, that there are not long-term detrimental effects.”
Many people argued with that opinion giving examples of how parents are witnessing social and emotional effects of their children of the mask requirements at school. They expressed having parental choice in the matter.
Questions arose concerning the school’s ability to impose a mask requirement. State Representative Jake Teshka said the school is following Title 16 under Indiana Code concerning communicable disease quarantining rules.
Teshka said, “Under Title 16, again this is authority that they’ve had for at least 30 years so it’s nothing new, but under that Title 16 it does say that if somebody were to –and I’m going to miss the wording here, but it’s something along the lines of willfully kind of ignore those guidelines they would be subject to a Class B Misdemeanor.”
He encouraged the attendees to talk to State Senators and State Representatives to discuss issues in the General Assembly.
“We need to hear from folks in a respectful manner. I mean, you guys are talking to me in a respectful manner and I love it and I appreciate it and I thank you. The way that this thing works is that if you guys put pressure specifically on our leadership we may be able to get something done,” commented Teshka.
The entire question and answer session can be heard this Sunday, October 10 at Noon ET during the Maximum Impact program on MAX 98.3 FM.
