The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an on January 29, 2021 requiring the wearing of masks by people on public transportation conveyances. CDC will be amending this order as soon as practicable, to not require that people wear masks while. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

    “Face Masks should be worn by everyone and everywhere because it keeps people safer, It’s going to be really hard to go back to our regular life ” said Angelica Alvarez. The definition of a regular life changes throughout the years of being alive. Ever since Covid hit our regular lives have changed. Covid cases have increased in Harris county. Is there anything that we could do to change the data? We should all wear masks or get vaccinated to protect ourselves and others.

    “I think if you’re going to be in a situation where you will be in close proximity with other people you should have a mask on. Have I been wearing mines every second of every class period? No, it’s optional and like I said when my class is small enough and I stay at my desk at the front of the room, I feel comfortable having gotten both vaccine shots and my booster that I’m ok standing there behind my desk. If I go and try to help a student individually and I know I’m going to be all up in their space then I’m trying to do better by bringing my mask and wearing it.” Mr. Littlefields said.

    Many people have many different opinions on whether everyone should wear masks or not. In January 2022 there was a severe and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 cases in Harris County, meaning outbreaks were happening and worsening, and public health capacity was strained or exceeded.   

   At this level, unvaccinated residents should take action to minimize contact with others wherever possible. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to mask physical distance, and avoid all gatherings. Vaccinated individuals should follow the latest local public health guidance on whether to also wear a mask while indoors in public places, in crowded outdoor settings, and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.

   “I think they are necessary until we are able to get control of the Covid-19. If you’re not vaccinated then it’s really important that you wear it, to protect yourself and to protect people around you… So I think until we all can be safe without a mask on, I think we all need to wear a mask until then.” said Coach K. 

   Many people don’t like wearing masks but there is an alternative option which is getting vaccinated. There are approximately 2,861,078 of people fully vaccinated in Harris County and more than 535 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through January 24, 2022. There are rare cases in which people have experienced serious health events after COVID-19 vaccination. 

   Any health problem that happens after vaccination is considered an adverse event. An adverse event can be caused by the vaccine or can be caused by a coincidental event not related to the vaccine. Viruses are constantly changing, including the virus that causes COVID-19. These changes occur over time and can lead to the emergence of variants that may have new characteristics. 

   Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccines are highly effective against severe illness.  Emerging evidence (CDC) shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 illness provides added protection to your immune system.

With the rise of Covid cases, some people might be asking if we would go back to online classes. There are many opinions on whether we should go back online.

   “It’s safer for everyone and for me it was kinda easier.”  Angelica Alvarez said  but not everyone agrees. 

   “I think it’s more beneficial for the students and the teacher to stay in person because it’s beneficial to our social, mental and physical health. I think a lot of kids suffer because they were only online and they didn’t get the health that they needed. Which causes them to have a lot of problems when they come back to in-person. So I think we should all be able to see each other in real life” said Coach K. 

   Everyone has different opinions and it’s up to us to think for our safety and also the safety of others.