BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

St. Lawrence County's top public health doctor says he believes the safest way for students to use face masks when returning to school is to wear them all day, unless eating.

Dr. Andrew Williams, St. Lawrence County Board of Health president, addressed the St. Lawrence County legislature during their August full board meeting.

He said New York state guidance on masks in school says they must be worn during instruction, which he called "kind of vague."

“I actually would say from the experience we’ve had that kids will do better if they just wear a mask when they’re inside, or outside not physically distanced," Dr. Williams told the legislators. “The idea of the kids taking the masks on and off on and off all day is not a good idea."

He believes pupils should wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose, “except during lunch or a designated break.”

Earlier in the discussion, Dr. Williams outlined the differences between seasonal flu and COVID-19, which was at the request of a legislator from an earlier meeting.

“COVID is substantially more contagious than influenza. It also has a longer incubation time that makes it more insidious," he said. “The hospitalization rate is substantially higher, and the case fatality rate suggests it’s more deadly.”

He pointed to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that show about 34,200 Americans died from influenza during the 2018-19 flu season, and about 160,000 have died from the coronavirus. That's about eight times more deadly "and COVID isn't over yet," the doctor said.

He also pointed to severe COVID cases that leave the patient with long-term problems.

“We have almost a third of patients who are severely ill and end up with life-threatening blood clots," he said.

Dr. Williams also noted studies that show COVID-19 patients suffering strokes, kidney damage, and neurologic symptoms such as a long-lasting inability to concentrate.

"Many people develop what’s called pulmonary fibrosis, which can lead to significant disability over time," he said.

“The bottom line in terms of COVID-19 versus the flu, COVID is capable of causing widespread death and disability," Dr. Williams said. “Underestimation of this virus seems to have tragic consequences.”

He said there are some bits of good news.

“The North Country region has enjoyed a low prevalence of this illness” after first wave, he said.

“Fortunately, the North Country largely has been spared and I would argue it has to do with the aggressive Public Health response when we identified the first cases in March," he said.

Dr. Williams added that without the aggressive local response to the disease, “we would be dealing with … potentially thousands” of cases.

He said the low prevalence in the region bodes well for reopening, as long as strict public health measures continue to be adhered to.

He said this is especially critical to the local economy because of the huge economic impact of the county's four colleges.

He said they are going beyond the state requirements with regard to testing returning students.

Students are required to be tested before arriving in the North Country, and after arriving here, with a "surveillance testing program throughout the year." He called that plan "a very aggressive, robust testing program to prevent any students from coming to the North Country with the illness."

“I’m really excited they’re sort of going above and beyond the New York state requirements," Dr. Williams said.

He also said all four colleges have enforcement plans in place to deal with any students who may not adhere to the public health guidelines.

“They’re well aware that they're dealing with the age group that goes to college … all four universities have plans to address” any students not abiding, he said.