I'm really scared. Not allowed to wear a mask at work

[LavenderLilacTree]

It's just to vent really as I know there is no way round it.

I am really scared. I am a TA and when all the pupils are back in school we aren't allowed to wear face masks or any PPE. Social distancing is not going to happen.

The government have said only go back to work if it's safe and you can ensure social distancing, well it's not going to be safe for me. Government say to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces but teachers and TAs are not allowed to.

I am scared. I am in my 40s and have 3 children in Yr 8, Yr 7 and Yr 5 . I know it's a 3% chance of dying but to me that's not an insignificant risk. I would never take part in any activity that had a 3% chance of dying.

I just feel like the government doesn't value my life. This is a deadly virus that KILLS, i want to wear a mask. My life matters to me, my husband and my children.

It's scary at work at the moment but we only have 4- 7 kids in. When we have a full school it's going to be impossible to stay 2 meters apart so therefore you feel I should at least be able to wear a mask.

I love my job and the children at school but I don't want to give my life for it. I just think I should be able to have some form of protection. It's like my life doesn't matter.

I meant non Covid wards.

Yes I would be happier with visors and just year 6 initially.

So we would agree that teachers should have the same level of PPE that every nurse on a non covid ward has?

I think that’s reasonable.

I think y6 and visors is a great solution!

I've read that visors don't necessarily make much difference? You need to wear them with face masks, not on their own.

We agree @Daffodil101 😀

I want cases under control and test and trace up and running. Not specifically so I don't catch the virus, but so that we don't end up with a whole begin-again-from-scratch lockdown with nothing to show for all the time we've been locked away. I want to get out of lockdown as quickly as possible, not be messing about lifting and lowering it over and over. I want us to be in the same position that countries around Europe are in before we start thinking about taking the same actions. I want to know there is PPE for the hospitals in case there is another peak. I want to know that the government is prepared to back away from 1st June if these things are not in place.

I also want the government to insist, not recommend, that employers make their workplaces safe for return. I want to know that people can refuse to work in places if they are not safe and that employers will be held to account - not just teachers, but across the board.

We do, love! So what happens if you put that to your head, as your sort of ‘minimum’ before you’d feel better?

I think it would be very unreasonable to refuse you.

Another question no-one has asked (more applicable to secondaries, this one) - the government talks about 60% of the population needing to use their mobile phone app. Does this mean that children with mobile phones should use them at school? Will this override no mobile phone policies in schools?

It will have to, I guess

Loads of rules are being bent at the moment.

@Daffodil101 I am a TA so not much say on the running of things.

Another question no-one has asked (more applicable to secondaries, this one) - the government talks about 60% of the population needing to use their mobile phone app.

Assuming the guidelines can be followed in a school - I know that’s a big if - tracing of contacts of an infected person within that school would be pretty straightforward and wouldn’t require a proximity app to identify those in a class (or even a school) ‘bubble’ while at school? My understanding is that the app will be one aspect of the contact tracing system alongside more traditional methods.

So if the school can name who a student was in a class group with, and which teachers they were with, there would be no need for the app.

I may have it wrong, but that’s my current understanding of the proposed system.

Yeah I get that kitcat, but you should be able to have your choice of PPE. And if it’s refused, I would 100% support you if you chose to stay home.

This is level 1 PPE:

What is level 1 PPE?
Single pair of gloves
Disposable plastic apron
Fluid repellent surgical mask
Eye protection if you feel there is a risk of patient coughing, or splash or droplet exposure.

That sounds like masks and goggles tho.

Where do visors fit in? I’m a bit obsessed with them because I just got one to use with my patients!

Yep it is and its what supermarket staff wear etc.

I do think they should be allowed to wear PPE but level 1 seems appropriate. Level 2 (visors etc) is not worn throughout hospital. its why the non covid wards can be hit harder with cases in staff than throughout.

With a visor shortage at hospitals though thinking teachers should wear them is OTT.

Supermarket staff/Transport workers/teachers should all have the choice to wear level 1 PPE anything more seems overkill IMO

I don’t think it’s OTT if it makes that member of staff feel better. Plus kids can see their face.

With the phone apps, I was thinking that you would also want to trace who they walked to school with, who they spent their breaks with, etc.

Yes I like that the children can see our face. Plus I work with children with behaviour issues so I will definitely get back spat at.

There are plenty of activities that have a higher than 3% chance of dying that I’m willing to bet you do willingly on a regular basis! Including crashing a car or even falling over. Not to mention choking from eating, or numerous diseases you could get from smoking, alcohol, or contact with man made products and junk food. Wow I've fallen flat on my face twice in the last couple of years, tripped on a step where the lighting was poor and some dodgy new shoes led to the other fall, I've also fallen top to bottom of the stairs on a bus when the bus crashed. It never occurred to me how close I'd come to death. For two of the falls all the sympathy I got was hysterical laughter at my broken nose/black eyes.

I do think they should be allowed to wear PPE but level 1 seems appropriate. Level 2 (visors etc) is not worn throughout hospital. its why the non covid wards can be hit harder with cases in staff than throughout. I've been to see a GP today and after being vetted on the phone, again at the door (questioned through glass door) given a make do mask to wear as I didn't have one plus required to use sanitizer I got to see the doctor who was wearing a mask, visor, gloves, scrubs and an apron. That was to spend about 3 minutes with one person. I wonder what she'd wear if she was spending 6 hours with 15 kids.

I forgot to say receptionists were also wearing aprons, gloves and masks and were behind a screen although one had to come and open the door but maintained 2 metres distance.

I think in theory it sounds sensible for teachers to wear masks but in practice it might make it impossible or very difficult to do their job.

Before lockdown in March, I wore a mask for domestic cleaning in one of my client's houses (on their request) It's a slightly different scenario but after 4 hours of quite strenuous cleaning on a warm day I found it almost unbearable. I was overheated to the point of feeling quite ill, the mask was wet with sweat and my client couldn't hear what I was saying when I spoke with it on.

Perhaps a compromise would be to wear a mask only when one on one with a child or in close proximity.
Young children particularly pick up a lot of cues for behaviour, encouragement or reassurance from facial expressions and gestures which would be lost with face coverings.

I can see why guidelines are instead going for smaller groups of children and vigilant washing of hands and surfaces.

1forsorrow, falling down the stairs on a bus sounds absolutely terrifying! Glad you were ok.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel oh it was quite dramatic as I did a gambol all the way down and ended up unconscious in the middle of the bus. I opened my eyes, saw all these people looking at me in horror and decided to lose consciousness again, I never realised you could just think "Oh shit I don't want to be here" and drift away. I had 3 days in hospital and vomited more than I ever thought was possible. It was quite an experience but at least I didn't die.