Seriously worried about this requirement from school

[Acdcccc]

Just got this message from my DC school off the back of local council stipulations and am really concerned.

I have no issue wearing a mask so please don't lump me in with the anti - mask brigade but this instruction seems really short sighted.

My immediate thought is when a kid removes their mask it is more than likely going to be damp and placing this damp cloth in a zip lock bag for an undefined period of time is bound to multiply bacteria on said mask.

What kind of impact is this likely to have on kids health?

[Ronia]

@Beebityboo

If I send my DD (not sure yet) she will have to get a 40 minute bus ride to school so I am sending her with 5 masks, 2 for the bus rides and three for during the school day. Putting the 5 masks in the front pocket of her bag with 5 sandwich bags. When she takes one off she puts it in a sandwich bag then puts on a clean one. Once she gets home wash all 5 masks and do the same the next day.

Why would you need 5 bags? Surely one bag for the worn masks would be fine, since they're all going in the wash when they get home.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

The germs on the masks will be their own germs anyway. The same germs that are on their faces all the time.

[Beebityboo]

Yes I've revised my plan after realising five separate bags wouldn't really be necessary. Going to get a washable one instead.
As for the amount of masks I think five is going to be the minimum really, especially with the long bus ride. It's going to be so uncomfortable for her when the weather turns. No other choice though, she can't get to school any other way.

[BlusteryShowers]

A small wet/dry bag that you use for baby changing might be a good option. They've got a plastic lining but washable and zip up.

[MillieEpple]

We bought a lot of masks for this. I am just wondering how many of you put the same knickers on the next day because its just your own germs going back on.

[poshme]

Millie I don't change my pants every time I go to the toilet. I pull them down... and then back up again.

I thought everyone did!

A clean mask each day seems reasonable. 5 per day seems ridiculous.

[MillieEpple]

poshme but if you removed them because they were very damp (which is what you are supposed to do with masks) would you really just put them back on when they had dried without washing them.

[Pobblebonk]

Why are so many people assuming masks will be needed during the school day? They will only be compulsory in secondary schools in local lockdown areas, otherwise it will be down to the discretion of the headteacher and should only be warn in crowded areas like corridors. I suspect a number of schools will ban them because they want to be able to see children's faces and don't want to spend hours coping with lost masks.

[itsgettingweird]

@Absolutelylush

Five masks a day? Nooo. How many people are going to do that - children or parents?

Well I have 15 masks.

So I have enough for each day for at least 2 days in a row if I've judged correctly and hopefully 3.

All in separate bags in a cosmetic bag I brought for them.

Use, put in bag. Wash as needed.

I've not found it any trauma.

[Beebityboo]

I don't think five is ridiculous, they get pretty gross after a while, and she has a long ish bus ride to school. If she has to wear them I at least want her to feel clean and comfortable. It's going to be unpleasant enough as it is.

[MRex]

Bacteria won't grow mould over a few hours at school, the same mask to/from in one day isn't an issue as long as there's a fresh one for the next day. A cloth bag is better for washing at home, though if you include a filter then you need to remember to take those out before washing. Rinsing in a bit of fairy liquid and leaving out to dry overnight works well too. £6 for 2 masks that can be reused is a high initial outlay for a few families, but most will have already bought them for other activities such as going to the shops anyway.

[AldiAisleofCrap]

Many parents cannot afford multiple masks. which is why there are community groups seeing them for free, or make your own.

[AldiAisleofCrap]

*sewing

[CaptainMyCaptain]

@MillieEpple

We bought a lot of masks for this. I am just wondering how many of you put the same knickers on the next day because its just your own germs going back on.

No but I would wear the same knickers to travel to school, at school and on the way home from school on the same day. Its not really a comparison.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Have a look on Etsy for mask bags you can buy reusable pouches, some can be personalised with names and you can also get sets one for clean masks one for dirty.

[MillieEpple]

I think the difference in perspective is i dont think that a mask after a 40min bus ride would still be clean and in particular dry. So the idea is you need to wash that and use a fresh one. Others feel that the mask would still be clean /dry and could be reworn.
Im obviously grubby and damper than average. I sneezed in mine yesterday for instance.

[rosesinmygarden]

My daughter's school has asked that if they travel on the bus or train they have separate masks for the inward and outward journeys and a sandwich bag to keep the dirty one in.
Makes sense to me. I wouldn't trust dd to remember which way her mask was on in the morning.

[MoreListeningLessChatting]

@Acdcccc

You asked how long for mould to grow on damp mask....

'24 to 48 hours
Mildew (mold in early stage) and molds grow on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other organic materials. Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.'

[juneisbustingout]

Just thinking that how often do you change your mask is going to become the new MN how many showers do you have/ how often do you vacuum

[Enoughnowstop]

I have bought some wet bags with 2 compartments. They wear one and keep one in one compartment and remove the other and put it in the other compartment. Whole lot goes in the wash, including bag.

[Ugzbugz]

I would imagine a lot of kids will shove it in their blazer pocket or bag and reuse multiple times. I for one have never even considered putting my mask in a zip lock bag, I must be a stupid minger

[ineedaholidaynow]

You are not meant to touch the mask once you have worn it, you are only meant to pick it up by the bits you put round your ears. How do people get them out their pockets etc if you shove them in there?

DS's school have asked us to provide a sealable bag too for used reusable masks. He will be taking 3 a day, one of which he will wear on the bus to school, one for the homeward journey and one if required in school. He will have a couple of disposable ones in his bag too, just in case he forgets the other ones.

[SoPanny]

Completely get you OP, seems totally counter intuitive but it’s just another thing that doesn’t make sense about this new dystopian hellscape that we’re raising children in right now.

[minnieok]

I'm still using the same mask from June . Yes I know what we are meant to do but I've already had my run in with covid and there's no proof you can catch it twice (unless it mutates)

[BillywilliamV]

There are mould spores on everything, they won’t grow to toxic levels unless mask is very damp and left for a few days.