She was referring to SB1303, a law signed last year by former Gov. Ralph Northam, which requires schools to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

GOP Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, a sponsor of SB1303, countered that the measure “does not mandate the use of masks in school because the CDC does not mandate masks.”

A practicing physician, Dunnavant added in a statement, “Today, we know that the risk of hospitalization for children is almost none. In fact, of Virginia’s estimated almost 1.9 million children, .07% have been hospitalized with Covid-19 since March 2020. At the same time, the use of masks in school presents risks of learning loss, social emotional challenges, and other issues. Parents, constitutionally and logically, are the best people to do an analysis of what’s best for their child.”

If masks were a magic wand that prevented children from infection, pro-mask parents should feel secure that their children are protected by mask wearing — so there’s no need to force others to comply.