When this Marion mom was told her 19-month-old son couldn't wear a mask in day care, she fought the system

Apr. 13—MARION — When a Erin McGettigan's 19-month-old son, Lachlan, started at a new day care center last month, she was told by the Iowa Department of Human Services that he was not allowed to wear a mask.

In an email to McGettigan, shared with the Gazette, the Iowa Department of Human Services said her son was too young to be wearing a mask, describing him as an "infant," and that it is "dangerous practice."

"Anyone with a toddler knows you can't make them do anything they don't want to do," said McGettigan of her almost two-year-old. "The safety concerns of an infant wearing a mask weren't relevant here."

McGettigan got a letter from her son's pediatrician — who checked his oxygen levels while he was wearing a mask — saying it was safe for him to continue wearing a mask. She implored the Department of Human Resources to reverse its guidance.

In an email to McGettigan last month, Todd Savage, child care licensing bureau chief with the Iowa Department of Human Services, said her child can continue to wear a mask.

"It is my intention to take no position and any variance of your current practice would be a result of the centers preference to ensure safety and manage liability," Savage said in an email to McGettigan shared with The Gazette.

While McGettigan is happy Lachlan can continue to wear a mask at day care, she's unsettled by the experience.

In the three days last month McGettigan was told her son could not wear a mask, she was "scrambling" to find a day care center in the area where he would be able to wear a mask, she said.

She received the same response — that children under two-years-old are not permitted to wear a mask.

There is still not a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. While children are less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, at least 400 children four-years-old and younger have died from the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Linn and Johnson counties. Earlier this month, Linn County reported 122 new cases in seven days, almost double the 56 case reported the previous week.

As of March 31, the COVID-19 transmission level for all 99 Iowa counties remained in the "low" category, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under federal guidelines, people living in areas rated as medium or low no longer need to wear masks indoors or in public spaces.

At previous day care centers, McGettigan said her daughter Lyra, 4, was "bullied" by other kids for wearing a mask and the teachers were not supportive of the family's choice.

"I know other parents that have recently taken their students out (of day care) and decided to be home with them because they felt like they couldn't keep their children safe otherwise," McGettigan said.

McGettigan and her husband are immune-compromised, putting them more at risk if they were to get COVID-19, she said.

"Here in Cedar Rapids and Marion, area day care teachers and staff are not masking, are not required to have vaccines and COVID cases at day cares have remained high," McGettigan said.

Last year, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law banning Iowa schools from requiring students or staff to wear masks.

Reynolds said the law puts parents "back in control" of their child's education by letting them make their own health care decisions.

But when McGettigan was told her son was not allowed to wear a mask, it took away her parental choice to protect her child, she said.

Lyra and Lachlan have been practicing wearing a mask for the last several months for when they are in public. McGettigan said she and her husband worked with their children on wearing a mask before they went on vacation.

When Lachlan is at day care, he takes off his mask to eat, nap and when he's outside, which is in alignment with guidance from the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Alex Carfrae, public information officer for the Department of Human Services, said they recommend child care providers in Iowa follow Department of Human Services guidelines for infection control in child care settings.

"DHS understands some parents would like their child to continue wearing a mask when not required or advised by public health authorities," Carfrae said in an email. "In those cases, DHS defers to the parents, the child's health care provider, and the child care provider to make decisions in the best interest of the child.

Department of Human Services guidelines for infection control in child care settings includes information about screening for illness or disease upon arrival at the child care center, proper hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Masks and face coverings are mentioned as a tool to prevent the spread of respiratory illness. All children younger than two years of age should not wear a face covering, the guidance states.

The Department of Human Services has provided technical assistance to child care providers regarding COVID-19 safety and precautions for more than two years, Carfrae said. "Our child care team can't think of a case similar to the one you inquired about," he said.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com

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