Chesco Health Dept. Says It's Not Taking Police Mindset On Masks

WEST CHESTER, PA — If kids and young people have such a low rate of death from COVID-19, why do they need to be vaccinated? This was one among many questions brought before a town hall panel Friday morning in Chester County, hosted by U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.

In a phone-in town hall meeting, a panel fielded questions from Chester County residents that covered both medical and political questions on response to the COVID-19 Delta variant, with the Health Department's director saying there is no "police mindset" around masks.

Houlahan (PA-6th) arranged the venue and was joined by Penn Medicine's Dr. Benjamin Abella and Chester County's Health Department director Jeanne Franklin on Friday morning as questions came in about the Delta variant, masking, vaccines, and related matters.

Houlahan said she organized the town hall venue "in response to the uptick in calls our office has received about this more contagious and dangerous strain of COVID-19."

Chester County's COVID-19 metrics reported Aug. 13 by the state Department of Health show a continued climb that began a month ago. The metric with the steepest climb over the last seven-day period across both Chester County and the state was average daily hospitalization for COVID-19.

The most recent CDC data tracker places Chester County at the substantial level for COVID-19 transmission risk. All weekly COVID-19 metrics reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health were up in the last week, a trend for more than a month now.

"From the beginning, we've always maintained that science and facts must guide our path forward. While our community continues to lead not only the Commonwealth but also the nation in vaccinations, the rapid spread of the Delta variant through our population is cause for concern," Houlahan said.

On July 27 the CDC released updated guidance on the need for urgently increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage and a recommendation for everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission to wear a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.

School Guidance

Callers wanted to know how the Chester County Health Department would handle its guidance to school districts, and if it was likely to make masking mandatory in schools.

Chester County Health Department Director Franklin pointed to the very cooperative relationship the Department has had in the past year through the pandemic with school districts. She did not think it would be helpful "for us to come in and try to enforce in their operation."

"The schools know what to do. They understand the advantages of layered mitigation," Franklin told one caller. Layered mitigation refers to the cluster of actions schools have taken against the spread of COVID-19 in their efforts to keep schools functioning safely; these include masking, social distancing, hygiene, symptom monitoring and reporting systems and other measures.

"I don't at this time have a police mindset for our schools — and that includes restaurants and other businesses," Franklin added.

Global Spread Of Variants

Houlahan, a U.S. Air Force veteran, serves on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. A caller from Phoenixville asked Houlahan what's being don't to prevent more variants from developing.

Houlahan pointed out that the spread of the virus is never of merely local or even national concern. She said, "Wherever there is COVID there is cause for concern."

Houlahan said she is supportive of an organization called Covax that is working toward vaccination access for countries that still need it. She said Covax reminds us that when it comes to COVID-19 and vaccinations, "no one wins the race until everyone wins."

Houlahan said there are legislative initiatives in the works to secure Americans from epidemics more widely, concerning vaccine development, logistics, and distribution. Houlahan also added that those concerned with masking should get engaged with their own local school boards.

Booster Vaccine Shot?

A caller from Kennett Square asked about "booster" vaccination shots, and if the County is ready for that after its bumpy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Abella noted that "the science isn't yet totally clear if and when a booster would be required." He underscored that a vaccine booster strategy is not a replacement strategy when there are still those who are unvaccinated. "Please get vaccinated," he said.

Franklin described a plan of action that has been worked out through the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and that is now in place should there be a need for booster vaccinations.

Across Chester County, Franklin explained, "all our pharmacies are in. They are approved to give vaccinations."

Franklin said the "big learning" has been the ease at which the County's system can handle walk-ins, toward the goal of making the process of vaccination smoother for everyone. "We now have a fluid ability to move clinics to different locations. We have phenomenal cooperation here. Penn Medicine, Tower Health, Main Line, everyone has been part of a whole synergy of willingness to work together."

Should People Who Had COVID-19 Still Get Vaccinated?

A caller from Chester Springs asked the panel if people who've had COVID-19 still need to get vaccinated, and if there is data on their immunity such as how long it might last.

Abella cited a July 2021 study that showed "strong data" regarding immunity in those who've had COVID-19. The study used a large cohort of military recruits, many of whom had COVID-19. The study showed that those who'd had COVID-19 but also had a vaccine had a drastically lower rate of the illness. "The vaccine provides a very, very robust response," he explained, to the proteins involved in the virus's attack on the body.

The Matter Of Masking

Houlahan reminded the town hall audience that the CDC is presently recommending masks be worn indoors, whether or not one is vaccinated against COVID-19. A caller asked why government agencies are not enforcing indoor masking in light of that recommendation.

Frankin explained further that the recommendation applies to areas where transmission risk levels are at the substantial or high marks established by the CDC. When the incidence rate is over 50 per 100,000 residents in an area it is considered at substantial risk of transmission.

Chester County went from an incidence rate of 51 on Aug. 6 to 64.6 per 100,000 residents in the last week-over-week comparison reported on Aug. 13 by the PA Department of Health.

Franklin said the Chester County Health Department is promoting following local metrics related to the CDC's recommendations. She said it is an "opportunity an individual can take to protect themselves."

Houlahan added that while it may seem simple to make state or federal mandates around masking, our nation's traditions around individual freedoms make the matter less simple. She said, "It's frustrating that we don't have leverage at the state and federal level, but we're having conversations at both levels. It's a complicated part of our freedoms in this nation."

How Many Get Sick From Vaccinations?

Another caller asked how many people get sick from being vaccinated, saying he'd spoken with people who aren't getting vaccinated because they fear getting sick from the COVID-19 vaccine itself.

Abella acknowledged that people are scared and worried, but said, "The data are overwhelming about the safety of the vaccine. Many will have a couple of days of discomfort, some even a fever. But some people feel unwell after a flu vaccine This is normal, it's your immune system working."

He said that data strongly supports the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Kids And Young Adults

A West Chester caller asked about vaccinating kids and even young people under age 30, since their rates of getting ill are low. The caller noted if the goal is to avoid the worst outcome — death — then why do we need to vaccinate children or even young adults since so few under 30 die of COVID-19?

Abella responded noting that children can suffer significant consequences from having COVID-19, that death is not the only among those. He said kids having pulmonary issues because they had COVID-19 is "a tragedy."

But he said that is not the only matter to consider. "The children may not be fine, and there's also the herd immunity question." He reminded the gathering that young people live with older people. "There's the community spread issue. People in their 30s are very social moving around. They may do well personally but will spread the virus to others who won't do well. That's why it's so crucial that young adults get vaccinated."

Houlahan said that an announcement is expected in September from Pfizer concerning a possible timeline for vaccination for ages 5-11. She said Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have not yet communicated timelines on their readiness with vaccinations for children.

Do Cloth Masks Work?

Another West Chester calls asked if cloth masks are effective, saying she's been told cloth masks don't work, so why wear them in school? "What do I say?" she asked the panel.

Franklin said, "It's pretty clear that masks work." She acknowledged that some masks are more effective, like the N95, and that when mask material allows too much air through, it could be less effective because the coronavirus is airborne.

The key to their working is that they greatly reduce the amount of virus that gets through, even if the cloth doesn't catch it all.

Abella said that the data are strong that cloth masks work. "Data show any mask works," he said. He noted that some studies early on apparently showed cloth didn't work well, but he said these studies lacked control groups and were generally not well done. "They got lots of media coverage," he said.

But Abella pointed out, "Science shows any mask helps. It's an airborne virus. Yes, some virus can get through a cloth mask but the viral load is so small."

Abella said "the medical community was dumbfounded" because there was almost no flu season last year. "We think this was because of masking."

Are Flu Shots Needed This Year?

Abella told a caller that it's generally good to space out vaccines, like a flu shot and a COVID-19 booster. He said even though influenza was way down last year, it's still recommended to get a flu vaccination. "Flu is easily preventable," he said.

Healthcare Worker Burnout

One caller asked the panel about the burned-out state of healthcare workers who she said are upset about the lack of a vaccine mandate as they work in understaffed facilities.

Abella, an emergency room physician, acknowledged that healthcare workers are very stressed. "No one signed up for a military-like environment where our lives are at risk," he said. "Many folks are leaving. Nurses can move to safer environments."

Abella said, "What can we do? Thank them. Mask, and support vaccination." He said while thanking workers is nice, healthcare workers say they'd really like to have people using masks and getting vaccinated.

Houlahan shared that her brother is an ER nurse, and called the healthcare workers who've labored through the pandemic so far "a generation of 'veterans' of a different kind."

"They are exhausted and frustrated." The U.S. Rep. noted that there is money in the Reconciliation Bill to support healthcare workers' physical and mental well-being. "It's part of why we need the bill and American Families bill," she said.

To read the CDC's latest guidance on the Delta variant, click here.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.