Relaxing Mask Mandates in New Jersey

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash INTORDUCTION In March of 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state would no longer mandate face masks for students, staff, and visitors at schools childcare centers. Two-thirds residents already supported this decision.[1] Soon after, Princeton University led way in learning to live with virus making use optional most situations. At a time when vaccination rates were high Omicron hospitalization falling, decision relax mask mandates was right call. Yet, Rutgers has extended its rest academic year, stated endpoint. university-wide email, Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer Antonio Calcado announced: The university been clear science data guide our path forward respect health safety community… Use appropriate coverings will still be required all teaching spaces (classrooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms, etc.), labs, computer buses, libraries, clinical facilities.[2] Despite university’s purported commitment follow “the data,” there noticeable lack transparency regarding scientific rationale official endpoint extension mandate. Given same set available, these neighboring universities came opposite conclusions need continued mandates. Notably, continues require students libraries but not crowded cafeterias. These discrepancies have understandable frustration among members community. response, student newspaper objects sense optics” communication,” resulting “confusion,” arguing administration “needs more transparent” “must communicate explain policy changes effectively.”[3] trust public institutions is an all-time low, Ava Kamb warns transparent messaging can reduce even further.[4] Instead, argues should least restrictive means necessary order promote civil liberties time. ethical question whether relaxed. I argue healthy individuals uncertain benefits, which potential harms may outweigh, therefore voluntary. ANALYSIS intends data” forward. As such, it worth revisiting controversial behind From 2019 2020, systematic reviews World Health Organization (WHO) Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections concluded community lacks effectiveness reducing viral transmission based moderate-quality evidence.[5] Neither study concerned COVID-19 specifically. Since then, only two randomized controlled trials published during pandemic found little benefit.[6] Centers Disease Control Prevention (CDC) cite many observational modeling studies (based empirical assumptions) suggest masking beneficial.[7] support larger benefit associated masking, they less reliable research methods. Based non-randomized mechanistic plausibility, WHO’s current position also supportive recommendations. But without high-quality evidence, difficult justify requirement rather than recommendation. It useful draw distinction between recommendation health. A does generally undermine individual autonomy because choice recommendations justified lower standard proof or lesser expected precisely do violate autonomy. On other hand, demands compliance using threat penalty. To ethically infringement autonomy, strong evidence demonstrates significant While accordance personal preference reasonable precaution—particularly vulnerable individuals—the higher standards met. Notwithstanding, one might precautionary principle justifies For example, Chinese CDC Director-General George Gao, medical researcher Trisha Greenhalgh, others espouse such view.[8] holds better safe sorry. context COVID-19, used advocate measures evidence. Accordingly, thought safer implement potentially ineffective risk forgoing lifesaving benefit. ill-defined concept philosophically problematic. economist Jay Bhattacharya epidemiologist Sunetra Gupta cuts both ways benefits harms.[9] If implementing due possible benefit, then able harm caused intervention. commonly lose from masks, necessarily true. According WHO, CDC, European Centre (ECDC), include headaches, difficulty breathing, skin lesions, communicating, false security, environmental pollution, impaired learning, delayed psychosocial development, disadvantages cognitive mental disorders.[10] observed drawn literature. negative side effects remain significantly under-investigated. emerging prolonged reuse increases inhaled microplastics, long-term are unknown.[11] related communication, development particularly problematic educational institutions, whose mission very things. is, therefore, done good. models some interpret mean clearly work. However, limited body paints optimistic picture cannot rule out increase infection masks.[12] Other types studies, methods, masking. encourage voluntary, evidence-based interventions foist upon sake benefits. remains unclear what extent influenced mortality. me meet harm. tenuous case weaken mixed availability effective pharmaceuticals, widespread natural immunity COVID-19. aim while respecting liberties, burdensome CONCLUSION low-risk population levels justified. times fear uncertainty, education ought make reasoned decisions guided data.” seem that, mandated emerged as national leader lags behind. Schools across nation take note. - [1] Eagleton Institute Politics. Jerseyans agree lifting school mandate, comfortable returning normal; half think NJ “just right” pandemic. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Rutgers-Eagleton-Poll-COVID-March-7-2022.pdf [2] AM. Return Campus Update – January 31, https://coronavirus.rutgers.edu/changes-related-to-covid-19-protocols [3] Daily Targum. Rutgers’ new policies confusing. https://dailytargum.com/article/2022/04/editorial-rutgers-new-mask-policies-are-more-than-confusing [4] A. liberties. Voices Bioethics 2020;6. doi:10.7916/vib.v6i.6297. [5] Global Influenza Programme. Non-pharmaceutical mitigating impact epidemic influenza. Geneva: Organization; 2019; Jefferson T, Del Mar CB, Dooley L, et al. Physical interrupt spread respiratory viruses. Database Systematic Reviews 2020;11(CD006207). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub5. [6] Abaluck J, Kwong LH, Styczynski A, Impact COVID-19: cluster-randomized trial Bangladesh. Science 2022;375(6577):eabi9069. doi:10.1126/science.abi9069. (intervention reduced symptomatic seroprevalence 9.5%; 95% confidence interval = [0.82, 1.00].); Bundgaard H, JS, Raaschou-Pedersen DET, Effectiveness adding prevent SARS-CoV-2 Danish wearers: trial. Ann Intern Med 2021;174(3):335-343. doi:10.7326/M20-6817. (trial conducted setting where wearing uncommon findings inconclusive; [0.54, 1.23].) [7] U.S. Prevention. Brief: Community Masks Spread SARS-CoV-2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html [8] Zimmerman mask-wearing: When waiting explicit unwise. doi:10.7916/vib.v6i.5896. (supporting early short term unlikely severe outweigh benefits.); Greenhalgh Schmid MB, Czypionka Face crisis. BMJ 2020;369:m1435. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1435. [9] J. Catastrophic Misapplication Precautionary Principle. https://collateralglobal.org/article/misapplication-of-the-precautionary-principle; S. Betrayal https://collateralglobal.org/article/a-betrayal-of-the-precautionary-principle [10] Organization. Mask Interim guidance, 1 December 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/337199; Prevention; Control. Using community: First update https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/covid-19-face-masks-community-first-update.pdf [11] Li Zhao X, Z, Performance microplastic inhalation posed masks. J Hazard Mater 2021;411:124955. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124955; Ma Chen F, Xu source nanoplastics microplastics environment: Quantification, characterization, bioaccumulation. Environ Pollut 2021;288:117748. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117748; Liu Q, Used disposable sources environment. 2021;285:117485. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117485. [12] (inconclusive 1.23]).