Unpopular opinion...

I get that everyone is concerned, but I won’t wear a mask in the fall. I have severe chronic asthma and am immunocompromised. I cannot get the vaccine. It would probably kill me sooner than COVID. I had COVID and I’m fine.

Most of my colleagues are vaccinated and most children don’t get severe illness from COVID, so the risks of me not wearing a mask are negligible.

I got several significant bacterial sinus infections, several asthma attacks, and had to take over a month of unpaid leave this school year that I have never had to do due to having to wear the masks (I generally have to take only 1-2 weeks unpaid due to illness in a typical school year).

I may have to go back on antibiotics for a 4th time this year soon due to wearing masks for 4+ hours a day, 5 days a week because my sinus infection symptoms are returning. This was not an issue when I was able only wear my mask for 3-4 hours a day, and my symptoms did clear up.

I’d rather take my chances with getting COVID again than not being able to teach due to being out with sinus infections and asthma flare-ups for a good chunk of the school year. If I die, I die, but it better be from something I can’t control like COVID rather than something I can control such as upper respiratory illnesses.