Does this sound over the top?

[GruffaloandMouse]

My friend works as a support assistant in a secondary school. She is to go back full time in September, the same as the pupils. She hasn’t been shielding or anything, but they’ve only needed her in on a rota
Anyway, she was told in a meeting they are providing full PPE for the support staff - TAs and support assistants and that’s a mask, visor, gloves and apron. Each time they move between classrooms they have to change their PPE items. I can’t believe how much this will cost the school and two, how much plastic waste there will be.
I completely understand in a clinical setting being that fastidious, but this is sitting next to a child and helping them with their work. How will she manage that in a mask and visor and all day too? Plus she wears glasses. And I’m not sure what the need for the apron and gloves are?

I was very surprised! I know it’s good they’re being so careful, but it seems extreme!

Anybody??

Why would they need an apron?! The only people I've seen wearing aprons are medical staff who have a high probability of getting bodily fluids on their clothes. Unlikely in a school!

I think the amount of single use items being thrown away at the moment is insane. How long ago was it we were banning plastic straws and using bamboo toothbrushes - now everyone is clamouring to buy gloves to wear for 10 minutes and throw away.

Apart from in clinical settings people should be encouraged to wear washable and reusable masks rather than single use ones.

@FrugiFan I have no idea. But those are my sentiments exactly! I think it’s ridiculous personally. No idea where the money is coming from and I’m disgusted at the waste.
I spoke to another friend who works as a nurse and she said they don’t even go to those extremes, the changing masks and aprons after every patient...because there’s a PPE shortage (I think they change gloves each time!)
She said nurses in the ICU do.
This is a bog standard secondary school!

I'm a teacher. I'm also very vulnerable but im working.
It's very over the top. I wouldn't wear it

Schools that have stayed open haven't used ppe so why would that start using in September .?

Very over the top. I'm a nurse in a mental health setting. We are following Public Health England guidance which is to wear a surgical mask throughout our shift at all times ( when we have no residents with symptoms) no other ppe required unless doing personal care or someone is displaying covid symptoms. We do not change the mask during general use unless going on a break or if it becomes soiled.
I would be questioning what ppe guidance they are following- PHE have published very clear guidance for most settings now. I would bet my house what they are doing is not required.

It will be because the support staff are moving between bubbles.

Surely over the top measures are better than not good enough measures?
If that's what the school thinks it needs to do to protect everyone then It's better to be safe than sorry

It’s crazy, completely over the top. Most schools are so strapped for cash that teachers are having to buy pencils and glue with their own funds and they’re spending money on this?!