Reuse of damp, screwed up, dropped on floor masks and increase of respiratory illness in school children

[Treesofwood]

Do people really think school children will be able to hygienically manage masks? I reckon they should use them for a day, wipe them in a petri dish in science and then see the outcome. It would be an excellent lesson.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress

You're also presuming there are infected people misusing masks in your scenario so the hypothesis doesn't work. Let's presume the opposite shall we? Kids are encouraged to engage in a bit of social responsibility (and the 300 I meet every week can't wait to get back, so will do it) wear masks correctly if it's decided that should be the case etc.

But no. There's no point in trying anything recommended by the WHO because we're all doooomed and we can't/won't.

It's the 'wearing masks correctly' bit that's the problem. Wearing them correctly isn't possible in a school situation. It's not a matter of teaching or reminding, it's a matter of the situation just being wrong.

Wearing masks correctly involves very careful procedures that teenagers in a school can't follow.

@SlipperyLizard

OP I’m totally with you, if a kid (or adult) with COVID-19 puts on a mask, takes it off for class, pops in pocket, puts back on again, repeat throughout school day - how is that not going to mean more virus particles on their hands (through touching mask/pocket) and therefore more spread of infection to anything they touch?

I don’t think most adults are using masks “properly” (they’re taking them off between shops, not washing them etc) so it isn’t putting our kids down to suggest they won’t either, it is just a fact.

Most adults I see are.

Some aren't. But just because some people in society can't be bothered to educate themselves and make the effort we shouldn't assume everyone can't or won't or assume our children are too stupid to manage.

@Qasd

I think persepections on Mumsnet re how mask wearing is working for adults and actual reality is way off anyway. There seems to be a suggestion most people are treating the whole thing like they are surgeons performing operations they are not! Most people are keeping some masks in their bag/ pocket and putting them on when required washing them occasionally! They are not Keeping them in separate sterile containers, avoiding all contact with the front using a new mask after every “use” eg putting one on to go to one shop, taking it off, putting another to go to another shop etc.

If this is what is required to make them useful then it’s not happening at society at large never mind on schools! I am assuming it isn’t what is required because the government must know this so “a mask to protect others” just doesn’t require the same level of care as one in a surgical environment.

This is exactly what I see in my town.

In the shopping centre people keep them on even when exiting the mall and crossing pedestrian area and entering another shop.

They follow the one way. They generally SD. If they stop for coffee they use bags and a new mask.

I won't deny there is the odd person who thinks it's a bracelet!

But on the whole compliance seems high.

We also have very low case numbers. And last week when we had 8 cases in 3 days after 3 weeks of no cases they were traced and we've had another week with none.

I can't believe it's totally co incidence

But I thought 'children' can't catch it or transmit it. So it won't matter if they don't wear masks properly as they are immune 🧐(they are not).
Except they might stop the staff catching it. Which will mean the schools can stay open.

We must be bringing up a generation of incompetents. Seriously.
Other countries seem to manage it.

It’s not about competence. You could be hospital level but you still wouldn’t tell staff there to reuse.

If people are pro mask and don’t think re-using is an issue, why do you think it’s not an issue?

Dds secondary doesn't require them but pupils can wear them if they wish.

Still schools being schools apparently the colour of the masks matter

I mean seriously. Go buy more masks cos yours is red not black?

Nice that even in a pandemic and safguarding more vulnerable children making sure they fit uniform requirements is priority 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

"my point is, that they will be at risk from other pathogens that they breathe into their lungs through unwashed, musty masks. Believe it or not Covid is not the only one".

I think this is a valid concern for everyone, not just kids. If you don't wash and store your reusable masks properly, then you can end up breathing in other pathogens, spores, etc. We are advised to wash them with our normal laundry, but I find this a bit gross. It is sensible and generally more hygienic to wash your pants and socks separately at 60 degrees, but I doubt many people actually do this, mostly as its not energy efficient, not practical and also as you will likely shrink them. I tend to just bung everything in together, pants included (I'm too lazy to separate too much!) but then I don't usually wear said clothes over my mouth and breath through them, so I'm ok with that. Maybe it's just me but idea of washing your mask in with the family's smalls makes me a bit squeamish . DH thinks I'm silly.

I obviously wear my mask when required and on the whole think it is a sensible idea. But I do wonder if anybody has researched the negative effects of breathing through reusable cloth masks. I'm thinking in particular of all the polyester / viscose ones, potentially shedding plastic microfibres that could be breathed in and also the inhalation of potentially toxic dyes and chemicals from the manufacturing process of the fabric, even with the cotton ones, and the residue of chemicals from the laundry detergents and even the fibres themselves which may be inhaled... and then there is mould / dust spores that can develop in dusty washing machines (washing machines can harbour quite a lot of nasty germs) or when masks are left lying around after being a bit damp from use. Maybe I sound neurotic but it doesn't sound like a great idea long term for lung health, especially if you are allergy prone. Disposables may be a little better as they were designed for this purpose and you would hope safety tested, and you only wear them once but obviously they are not a good solution for general public as they are terrible for environmental waste.... I've been handwashing mine in baby soap and rinsing well. I have a clean cotton bag to store them in so they don't get dusty. DH thinks I'm a bit nuts but he's welcome to wash his with the 3 year olds pants if he wants 😂

Maybe we should get guidance from other countries where they are used more routinely so they are likely to have better practices. In some Asian countries, children of pre-school age and above have been required to wear them for several months. Perhaps we could see if they are required to change them etc.

It really isn't that hard. You take in 3 or 4 masks a day, be they reusable cloth or paper. You take in a couple of zip-locked bags. You have a little bottle of hand-san (I mean, I assume all kids were taking their own hand-san in right before schools closed, right? They were here). They take off the mask when it becomes damp, put in ziplock to take home to wash OR dispose of the paper one in a designated bin. Wash hands or use hand sanitiser. Put on fresh mask. This isn't difficult for secondary aged students.

BTW, cloth masks are fine to be washed either with main laundry load or by hand with hand-hot water and lots of soap. It's the soap that kills/deactivates this particular virus.