Residents of Serbia’s capital were surprised to hear that LA’s homeless epidemic (5 homeless people per 1,000 residents) is substantially greater than that of Belgrade’s (1.6 per thousand). But these Serbs, already acquainted enough with the states to watch American football, were most surprised when I explained that Los Angeles, like so many other American cities, still makes children abide by the most rigorous coronavirus restrictions.

L.A. county’s school district not only mandates that all students wear masks, but also that they specifically wear more restrictive medical-grade masks. Furthermore, all children over age two who are unable to socially distance are forced to wear masks, even when outside.

The continued regulation of the population least at risk from the coronavirus is cruel and unusual by world standards. This is even more true when vulnerable populations — older people, that is — have abundant access to three separate vaccines and multiple therapeutics.