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?

[RedCatBlueCat]

Minnie - have you washed it in that time??

My oldest will be taking 2 masks to school - one for the morning bus, one for the afternoon bus. Currently mask wearing round school is optional. If he needs to wear one each lesson change, we will need to reevaluate. I dont have enough masks for that. I dont fancy wearing a mask for half an hour, sealing it in plastic, then rewearing 6 hours later. Hung up to air, and possibly.

[TheSunIsStillShining]

Can I ask: you are talking about cloth mask, right?
I bought kn95 masks and they are not washable. I use them when out, so at the rate I'm out and about it'll take me another 2-3 weeks to have to throw them out. Between uses I put them in their plastic bag.

[FippertyGibbett]

We have been told that it’s a fresh mask for each journey, so two needed a day for the bus.

[AldiAisleofCrap]

@TheSunIsStillShining you can only use them for 8 hours.

[TheSunIsStillShining]

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]@TheSunIsStillShining you can only use them for 8 hours.[/quote]
I know. If the bus takes around 40 mins than 1 should be enough for the bus rides/week.

[Serenschintte]

Dc have to wear masks at school. I send him w two a day. One pre lunch and one post. He brings them home and I wash them every day.
We were told an paper envelope is preferable to a plastic bag. So he has that. Or a fabric bag which I wash at the same time as the mask

[AldiAisleofCrap]

@TheSunIsStillShining
If the bus takes around 40 mins than 1 should be enough for the bus rides/week
How much are you paying per mask? These can be worn for 340 hours

preorder.cambridgemask.com/shop/pro-mask/preorder-the-churchill-pro/

[hedgehogger1]

M&S has 5 masks for a tenner

[Augustbreeze]

@minnieok there was a case reported this week of a man in Hong Kong who has definitely caught it twice:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/world/hong-kong-man-coronavirus-reinfection-a4531936.html%3famp

[TheSunIsStillShining]

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]@TheSunIsStillShining
If the bus takes around 40 mins than 1 should be enough for the bus rides/week
How much are you paying per mask? These can be worn for 340 hours

preorder.cambridgemask.com/shop/pro-mask/preorder-the-churchill-pro/[/quote]
This looks/sounds good.
I get them in a small local chemist for 5 pounds/piece.
I rarely go out, so I actually clock up the 8-10 hours in 2-3 weeks min.

[MrsKypp]

Multiple masks and colour code them, so eg the blue one going to school and the stripy one coming home or whatever. Label them too.

I'm not medically trained, but if you buy / get / make quite a few, and give them 2 each per day, wash them before the next use then I can't imagine there'd be a hygiene issue. I mean PE kits get stuffed into bags when damp and don't go mouldy etc

I found various washable ones on Amazon.

[AldiAisleofCrap]

@TheSunIsStillShining I have those masks and they are great, very comfortable and breathable. Though if you rarely go out £5 isn’t bad for a n95 mask these days.

[Scottishgirl85]

All these mask threads have me seriously puzzled. I keep a mask in my bag, wear it when required, store it back in bag, and probably remember to wash it every few days. Seriously what is the problem? And I'm a scientist

[QueenBlueberries]

I think that mould growth might take a bit longer than 5 hours to grow on fabric?

[Acdcccc]

@Scottishgirl85

All these mask threads have me seriously puzzled. I keep a mask in my bag, wear it when required, store it back in bag, and probably remember to wash it every few days. Seriously what is the problem? And I'm a scientist

You're a scientist!? 😳

[Treesofwood]

We are a family of 6 on holiday for just over a week. As we have had no access to washing machines I've had to purchase 162 fabric masks to ensure that we always have fresh ones. Need 3 a day each, or thereabouts. Cost me £800....

[QueenBlueberries]

Treesofwood, what? Surely you know that you can wash them by hand, with soap and hot water?

[Treesofwood]

I was joking, if you want masks to work though they have to be used properly. They will be germ ridden, covid or no covid.

[Lilybet1980]

Come winter will everyone be washing outdoor coats every day, let alone dry cleanable suits and skirts, of course they won't

Dettol do a spray for fabric. I’ve bought that for use on coats, scarfs, etc.

[toffeecashews]

@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?

So send your child with at least two masks ?

[bettsbattenburg]

@BlusteryShowers

I'm not much of an eco warrior, but I do feel awful about all the plastic bags and disposable things that are needed for this.

I've bought two ziplock transparent pencil cases (£1.30 each, free postage) from amazon for my DCs to put their used masks in. Cheap and reusable, and will be reused for exam pencil cases when the time comes.

[Pobblebonk]

@Lilybet1980

Come winter will everyone be washing outdoor coats every day, let alone dry cleanable suits and skirts, of course they won't

Dettol do a spray for fabric. I’ve bought that for use on coats, scarfs, etc.

The guidance says there is no need to wash uniform any more than usual.

Mind you, I strongly suspect that that has more to do with the government's wish to avoid complaints about the expense involved than any sort of science.

[Baaaahhhhh]

Considering the main route of infection is aerosol, and transmission via surfaces is not proven, I won't worry too much. Masks yes, washing hands yes, anything else, no.

[FinnyStory]

I agree OP, there's no way masks in schools will be used "properly".

It may be possible for kids to have multiple masks and for them to be stored correctly in a plastic bag but most are going to be on and off with one mask, stuffed in a pocket and often worn all week without washing.

Of all the things the public seem to have clammoured for, this is possibly the most ridiculous and if the risk of poorly used masked is as we've been told, this could be the thing that "proves" schools should never have reopened.

[middleager]

Five masks?
This thread is bonkers.