END MANDATORY MASKING AT DELANO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IMMEDIATELY

**PETITION TO IMMEDIATELY END MANDATORY MASKING AT ALL DELANO PUBLIC SCHOOLS**

We the children, parents and community members of the Delano Public School system have had enough of the mandatory masking of students and staff. We support **INDIVIDUAL CHOICE** to wear or refrain from wearing a mask that has not scientifically been proven to stop the spread of Covid-19.

We are publicly denouncing the Delano School Board’s September 2021 decision to approve a Covid-19 Mitigation Matrix that forced staff and students into masks when buildings had 3% positive tests. By exaggerating 3% as "high transmission," this misleading matrix forced 97% of each building’s healthy staff and students into masks. It is time to make decisions in the **best interest of our children**.

**The Delano School Board must rescind the Mitigation Matrix as it is written and immediately end the forced masking of Delano students and staff.**

Delano parents have reported to the Delano 879 Concerned Community that after wearing masks all day at school their children suffer headaches, stomachaches, inability to focus, depression, anger, panic, and anxiety. Delano Public School Staff members have reported a significant increase in mental health issues in their classrooms that include but are not limited to anger, anxiety, sadness, academic regression, and an apathetic attitude towards learning. Published studies prove these symptoms are real and are actually exasperated by forcing the children into masks.

**PHYSICAL ISSUES**:
An April 2021 study, where eight leading German scientists and physicians reviewed 44 published studies, found extended mask wearing caused Mask Induced Exhaustion Syndrome (MIES) in which the following was common: (1) Noted psychological and physical deterioration, (2) Difficulty breathing, with a significant correlation of O2 drop and fatigue (67% of participants), (3) Respiratory impairment and temperature rise (88% participants), but also temperature rise and moisture (100%) under the masks. The scientists concluded: Extended mask-wearing by the general population could lead to relevant effects and consequences. (i)

**MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES:**
The state of our children’s mental health is at critical levels. One example, according to FAIR Health, Inc., medical claims (13-18 age group) between March 2019 and March 2020 skyrocketed as follows: self- harm (increased 90.71%), overdoses (increased 94.91%), generalized anxiety disorder (increased 93.6%). (ii)

**Delano students must be given the CHOICE to wear a mask**. Forcibly masking our healthy children has serious consequences to both their mental and physical state.

Recent studies conclude “Mask mandates and use are not associated with slower state-level COVID-19 spread during COVID-19 growth surges.” (iii) Therefore, it is insane to force Delano Public School students and staff to wear masks that do not prevent the spread of Covid-19 but in actuality inflict documented physical and psychological harm.

**Delano Public Schools must no longer FORCE our children into masks. The children and families of this community MUST have a personal choice. No More Masks EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY**!

Sources:
(i) Kisielinski K, Giboni P, Prescher A, Klosterhalfen B, Graessel D, Funken S, Kempski O, Hirsch O. Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(8):4344. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084344.
(ii) The Effect of Covid-19 on Pediatric Mental Health: A Study of Private Healthcare Claims. FAIR Health, Inc. 2 March 2021. https://s3.amazonaws.com/media2.fairhealth.org/whitepaper/asset/The%20Impact%20of%20COVID-19%20on%20Pediatric%20Mental%20Health%20-%20A%20Study%20of%20Private%20Healthcare%20Claims%20-%20A%20FAIR%20Health%20White%20Paper.pdf.
(iii) Guerra, Damian D. and Daniel J. Guerra. Mask mandate and use efficacy in state-level COVID-19 containment.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.18.21257385v1.full.