To think the government will now have to change plans for schools

[oldbagface]

Now that masks are mandatory in shops I believe they will now have to allow them to be worn in schools. I'm thinking secondary schools here.

I didn't think they would make them mandatory in shops to avoid this but now they have, they can cannot really argue against it. Can they?

I really worry for teachers, children and parents. And if masks are necessary in shops then surely to goodness they are in schools.

I work in a school and I would prefer one and for my children. I know how fast normal germs spread. Pupils and staff will be off all the time, for gods sake let us protect ourselves

I understand the Governemnt have the powers to make mask wearing mamas story, but can they forbid it?

If a teacher wants to wear a mask for their own protection surely they can’t be told they’re not allowed to?

I’d like to think so but I notice the date they become compulsory is after schools break up. Therefore, I totally expect this rule to be over by September meaning that teachers, support staff and parents can’t use the argument that they are compiling in lost other areas of public life.

Urgh! I hate autocorrect. My last sentence should read ‘the argument that they are compulsory in most other areas of public life’.

I think visors sound insanely sensible.

Do you mean for the kids to wear them or the teacher? Theyre very much being "sold" as an aid to stop YOU spreading the virus (if for example you dont know you have it). So unless all the children are wearing them, there is no scientific basis for just the teacher to. If someone had the virus in the classroom the mask wouldnt prevent them catching it (and may even make this more likely if theyre taking the mask on and off). It would need to be the whole class or no-one.

They’ve been careful to talk about places where you come across people you don’t normally meet - presumably to rule out schools for now. If they bring them in in offices it would seem more relevant to schools.

Its only shops rather than offices, bars, restaurants etc. Not comparable to schools. If you want to wear a mask, the govt haven’t said you’re not able too, have they?

But children won't wear the effectively, they will touch them, take them off incorrectly etc. No blame I know our children however hard they try will not use masks effectively.

Teachers should be allowed them. But who knows.

"If a teacher wants to wear a mask for their own protection surely they can’t be told they’re not allowed to?"

But masks don't protect the wearer, they protect other people from the wearer. So there's no such thing as the wearer wearing one for their own protection.

@Strangetimess

Its only shops rather than offices, bars, restaurants etc. Not comparable to schools. If you want to wear a mask, the govt haven’t said you’re not able too, have they?

Yes, they have said exactly that for staff and pupils in school.

Visors for teachers is better.

Will be interesting to see what Scotland do in August

I don't see why primary school children aren't going to be able to wear them. People say they will fiddle with it, not take it off properly etc... which is true... but most if the time coughs and breath will have an extra barrier. They fiddle with their faces and pick their noses and suck their fingers without a mask anyway, so a mask won't really be increasing face touching.

Why are people still trotting out the masks only protect others line? It has now been shown and talked about by experts that they protect both others and the wearers?

My reception aged child wore one recently in hospital and afterwards he said he hates hospitals because of the mask. I would worry a lot about these little ones just bring thoroughly miserable and if that was the way forward I’d have to think very hard about home schooling as an alternative.

@Dorual

I don't see why primary school children aren't going to be able to wear them. People say they will fiddle with it, not take it off properly etc... which is true... but most if the time coughs and breath will have an extra barrier. They fiddle with their faces and pick their noses and suck their fingers without a mask anyway, so a mask won't really be increasing face touching.

If my daughters primary school said she had to wear one she wouldnt be going back. Regardless children under 11 arent required to wear them in shops anyway.

Hmm - for the staff yes. Would the teens comply? I think yes really for secondary.

It's going to be negative to those with SEN but those kids went under the bus at the start. They need to be in someone's equation

No way shouid they be worn in school how awful for the children - part of effective communication and facial expressions cannot be shown with a face mask

If my daughters primary school said she had to wear one she wouldnt be going back. Regardless children under 11 arent required to wear them in shops anyway.

Same.

Well home-school then. Staff and other children and their families shouldn't be put at risk because mask wearing is uncomfortable.

What about pubs etc... too?
I don't understand why British people are so het up on masks and masks for children? In other countries people just get on with it. I've a relative living in Thailand, they wear a mask all the time and just remove for drinking and eating..it isn't hard..their lives are back to normal.

Government guidance for schools it that there is 'no need' for masks to be worn. Unfortunately this has led to lots of schools saying staff in mainstream schools can't wear masks or other PPE, even though this is against the HSE guidance which says that if staff choose to wear face coverings this should be supported by employers.

The BMA suggests differently to the government about masks in schools:
'For someone, not wearing a face covering, and who has the virus or is a carrier, the risk of transmitting the virus to another person close by is 70%. By the carrier wearing a covering, that drops to just 5%. If a carrier and healthy person both wear masks, the probability of transmitting the virus is just 1.5%1. It makes absolute sense therefore that the wearing of masks will significantly help bring this pandemic further under control and reduce even further the risk of a second spike. This is especially true when in indoor settings such as shops, homes and schools'.
www.bma.org.uk/…/bma-calls-for-face-coverings-to-be…

As a secondary school teacher I would like the choice of wearing a visor and for my students to have the option of wearing a mask/visor too.

The whole issue is muddied because there is no clear line from the government on this. Why compulsory in shops but not restaurants? If masks are required in enclosed spaces then the thing they don't want to say is, in that case if they cannot be worn in an enclosed space then people shouldn't be there.

Why are people still trotting out the masks only protect others line? It has now been shown and talked about by experts that they protect both others and the wearers?

When worn and handled correctly. There is a reason they have hazerdous waste bins in every hospital corridor for disposing of masks/gloves after every use. And given that Boris on the news was incapable of handling his correctly (he pulled it from his face to talk to the cameras, screwed it up in a ball and stuffed it in his pocket to no doubt pull out and wear again later after contaminating both sides of it) then I really don't hold out much hope on the majority of Joe Public using them properly therefore rendering them utterly useless.

No. Ds is 12. He has enough trouble concentrating as it is. And as for wearing/handling a mask correctly, no chance.

I will be satisfied if years 7-9 (ie pre-GCSE choices) remain in a class bubble and persevere with good hand hygiene.