AIBU in agreeing with the NASUWT that masks should be worn in schools by over 11s?

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/28/unions-call-for-teachers-in-england-to-be-able-to-wear-face-masks

Given that they have to be worn almost everywhere else indoors by over 11s it would be the right thing to do. Adults working in schools have as much right to be protected as bus drivers and shop workers.

So AIBU in agreeing with the NASUWT that masks should be worn in schools by over 11s?

why do medical professionals wear masks if they are pointless

they wear properly fitted ones, and the risks are obviously far higher than to the wider population. We wear masks in case there's a case of covid in the vicinity. Many medical staff can be fairly sure that that there definitely is.

[quote mumsneedwine]@LadyofTheManners so why do medical professionals wear masks if they are pointless ?[/quote]
It's obvious why they wear them and how they wear them
One of the many I saw talking about masks was a surgeon, who said she wears one simply because when you are being operated on, the slightest tiny bacteria spore- of which we all breathe out without much concern the rest of the time, can be dangerous in that circumstance.
But the fact is, unless your watching Casualty, they don't constantly wear masks. Hence why the NHS didn't have a huge amount of stock of them.
Anyone who does wear them, for infection control purposes, takes them off each and every time they move from room to room, and they certainly don't wear them through corridors.
Try explaining to bored teenagers who've been stuck indoors for months that after each class, after break, after having a drink, or speaking, they must change their mask. They have to dispose of them carefully (looking at my area and the amount in the street adults find that hard enough).
They have been no recorded cases anywhere of pupil to teacher transmission.

I think part time school and part time at home would be preferable at secondary to wearing masks all day

A better question would be why do people over the age of 11 have to wear them on public transport and in shops if they’re useless?

@cologne4711 but hospitals are testing patients every 6 days so they know if anyone has it. And in wards they wear basic blue masks.
I'm glad you agree it's worth wearing one in case you are close contact with someone in though. As I'm going to be in contact with lots of people I think I'd like the same consideration. You know, in case one of them carries it.

And maybe "most" people don't have it at the moment, you just wait until October

What's going to happen in October? The fabled "second wave"?

We won't have a second wave if people follow the rules. Sit down in pubs, don't go to the bar, wear your masks where required, stay 2m from people you don't know outside and don't hug anyone other than immediate family. Up to you, everyone. Is it really that hard?

@LadyofTheManners oh dear god. Everyone wears one in hospital at the moment. All the time. Everyone.To protect everyone.
And there is no evidence of medical staff transmitting it to anyone either. There is no evidence of anyone giving to anyone else. You can't prove where you get it from.

@mumsneedwine apologies I was finishing off housework.

I work from home when I want to and go in the office when I want to. I'd say around 10-30 people in the office on any given day. I also have to collect numerous documents (legal) from various other sites / locations, get them signed and then visit the post office to send them out.

What is this childcare bubble thing? I don't get it, in theory I can send my DC to numerous different settings each week, every week, so what do these bubbles actually do? My DC have been to 3 different settings already.

Who pays for the masks?

@cologne4711 that's gone well in Spain hasn't it ? And Germany. And looks likes France too. If the virus has gone why is everyone not rushing back to their offices in packed trains ? No more wfh needed.

@noblegiraffe

A better question would be why do people over the age of 11 have to wear them on public transport and in shops if they’re useless?

Over 5 where I live Noble. My youngest really likes his and the older one tolerates it as he wants to go into shops - I'm guessing he might not be as keen for school, but he certainly doesn't poke or ping it.

that bubble / childcare question wasn't directed at you sorry! @mumsneedwine

I don't think they are useless and have supported mask wearing long before the stupid government did! I've worn a face covering from the outset of lockdown.

But as I said earlier on in the thread, if I go into a shop or even the hairdresser I only have to wear one for for between 10 and 4ish minutes (though having my highlights done will be longer, but that's a one-off and my choice, I could live with my grey/dark hairs if I decided I didn't want to wear a mask for 2 hours). School is 9-3 and 5 days a week and you cannot expect someone to wear one for that long - whether pupils or staff. They should be permitted but not compulsory - and maybe visors could be an option for many - not as protective, but better than nothing, despite the Swiss example.

@runbummyrun so you wfh lots of the time and only go into the office when needed ? And can the 30 people keep 2m apart ? Because that's all I'm asking. That or masks.
Do you wear a mask at post office ? And if so why ?
Bubbles are supposed to stop the spread of the virus. So if there is a case the minimum amount of people have to quarantine. Doesn't work though.

@DonnaDonna01 they can make them at most secondary schools in textiles. Cost about 20p in materials.

School of 1250 pupils, 800 staff of whom probably 300 live on site. There is control of the kids when they're here, but between holidays, exeats and random weekends where some are allowed to go home (or behave like idiots and are sent home in disgrace for a few days) they are always in and out. Not as frequently as a day school, but on the flip side, we have a LOT more contact with them than in a day school - we live with 52 of them, DH eats 3 meals a day with our house 6 days a week - the children and I join for breakfasts and all meals on weekends, plus the house staff coming in and out daily.

Bubbling by house not possible as all lessons are across houses. Bubbling by year group also not possible as each house has all cohorts. As far as I have heard from DH and other friends, no social distancing is proposed besides enforcing handwashing and hand sanitiser at the door of every schoolroom, cancelling various school activities like choir and relaxing school uniform to some degree. There is to be no entry by parents into boarding houses in term time, but I guess they can still take their kids out for lunch...

At least we are fit and healthy. Another housemaster's wife is immunosuppressed and shielding, I know they are pretty worried but there is no feasible alternative unless she moves out.

mumsneedwine none have had a cough, so nothing do far.

that's gone well in Spain hasn't it ? And Germany. And looks likes France too. If the virus has gone why is everyone not rushing back to their offices in packed trains ? No more wfh needed

Maybe they've not been following the rules as well as people claim they have. For months Spain was held up as this amazing place, strict lockdown, we need it here, we're so useless, look at all those covidiots in Bournemouth etc etc.

And I'm not rushing back to the office because I wfh normally anyway, and I'm not subsidising the train companies.

“There have been no recorded cases anywhere of pupil to teacher transmission.” Dear Lord. So everyone who has tested positive knows the individual they got it from, do they? The WHO keeps a log, does it? FGS. Unless you have been in total isolation and then in contact with only one other person, it is simply impossible to know who you got it from. People in schools - both teachers and children - have tested positive.

Do you really believe that the virus is spread by adults, but not fourteen or fifteen year olds? That those three or four years are some kind of magic barrier which stops transmission?

My eldest has said he would wear one if it meant the difference between getting back to school properly and not. My youngest however is autistic with quite severe sensory issues and he will not be able to wear one. He can sometimes cope in shops but not always

@cologne4711 lucky you. So none of the worry of being in a crowded space affects you at all. So you have no idea the anxiety it causes. Thank you for clearing that up.

Please stop with the misinformation of masks making people ill.

And whoever said hospital staff dont wear in the corridors, I assure you that we do. The only place we can remove them is the staffroom.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion do you have a plan for cold season ? My childminder friend is dreading trying to make the call between sniffle and Covid.

Ridiculous idea. Teachers can opt to wear one, sure. But it would need to be one of those plastic visor type ones so as not to hinder communication. Expect kids to wear one all day? Fucking mental.

Everyone in schools should wear masks.