Even without mask mandate, coronavirus infections among Harnett students drop

But one physician who has studied how to limit viral transmission in schools said Thursday that he still believes it's too early for school districts to drop mask mandates.

On Wednesday, the district reported 34 infections – a 49 percent drop from Oct. 4 – and 278 quarantines – a 36 percent decline.

“The key question there is, how many students are getting tested," said Dr. Daniel Benjamin, a pediatrician at Duke University and co-chairman of the ABC Science Collaborative, which examines pandemic-related data to provide guidance to school districts about policies and best practices.

Benjamin said one infected student could expose 20 others to the virus when few, if any, are wearing masks.

“If you don’t do much testing, you are not going to see a lot of positive results," he said. "I would expect, if you have a child infected in elementary school, to have a considerable number of quarantines for every child infected, and if you don’t, that warrants some evaluation."

School district officials didn't respond to WRAL News' requests for comment.

'It makes us look not so bright': Pediatrician on optional mask policy in Harnett schools

Harnett County is considered a high viral spread area – as are most of North Carolina's counties – with more than 134 infections per 100,000 residents and a 5.9 percent positive rate on virus tests. To get to the moderate category, it would need to slash its case rate to below 50 infections per 100,000 people and get its positive rate on virus tests below 5 percent.

DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said Wednesday that state health officials still believe masks should be worn in schools, and Benjamin agrees.

"I would like to see universal masking in place until children have had the opportunity to be vaccinated," he said. "I think calendar year 2022 is an optimal time for school districts to start to back off of mandatory masking politics."

CDC officials could approve the first pediatric vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 as early as next week.

Some Harnett County parents said they also wish the district still required masks.

"I am tired of COVID, but I don’t want to be locked down anymore either," said Pamela Sanchez, who has children in the 12, seventh and fifth grades.

The entire family has had COVID-19 this fall, Sanchez said, but she doesn't want to risk any of her children having a repeat infection. So, all three still wear masks in class.

“My middle schooler [says] people are not wearing them much," she said.

Sharon Massey, whose granddaughter attends Harnett Primary School, said she believes parents should have the choice to decide whether to have their children mask up, but she said she wishes they would all opt for masks.

"You don’t know what way this virus is going to go. One minute, they are saying it’s OK, and the next minute, it’s out of control," Massey said. "So, better safe than sorry."