Is anyone concerned about the health implications of mask-wearing in school?

[Noodlevonstrudle]

Just that really. With the best will in the world children and teens are likely to be touching their face way more wearing a mask than they ever would otherwise. There will be masks dropped on the floor, stuffed in pockets, left in the bottom of bags and then put back on again. It worries me a lot that not only will they be ineffective against Covid but that they will actually be harmful.

Neah, I can't see OP's right.
But I also don't think mask inside classrooms are really gonna make any difference either way.
There are better things to worry about.

Is there any proof showing this is an issue and that wearing masks is less safe that not wearing masks? Sounds like something you "think" might be an implication.

I doubt anyone sensible is.

How do they manage in every other country where they use masks in schools?

Are their kids disease-ridden? Or just more hygienic than ours?

I mean, there must be loads of data on this as we have been so slow in implementing this basic safety measure.

My teenager wore a mask Sep to Dec by choice at school so no.

I have no idea either way - just asking the question. One of DS' friend's grandmother contracted bacterial pneumonia that they thought was related to mask-wearing so yeah, it's something I'm slightly concerned about.

@noblegiraffe

I mean, there must be loads of data on this as we have been so slow in implementing this basic safety measure.

Yes, where is the data on it? I guess that's my concern. Not a lot of research appears to have been done on the long-term implications.

Yeah they'll be minging, but no more than the adults. I am not looking forward to the rubbish outside school.

It's painful to see this sort of threads are still being started, presumably by parents.
Do you want the school to be open, OP? Mask wearing is minor issue for many children compared to be confined in the home, or disrupted school with multiple SI. It's working fine in the other countries with even younger children.

Not a lot of research appears to have been done on the long-term implications.

Long term implications? You’d have thought the risks of a grubby mask would be evident fairly quickly.

Given that I’ve not seen other countries panic and remove the measure in the light of hundreds of kids getting bacterial lung infections, it’s most likely fine.

And if you are worried about your dc contracting something from dirty mask, make sure he wears clean one everyday.

My 13 and 15 year old wore masks from the start of school in September until they broke up in December for Christmas, we're in NI. They wore them on buses, in class, in corridors as did their teachers. They found that they touched their face a lot less when wearing masks. They got used to them quickly and found them a lot less annoying than they originally thought. The 13 year old took a bit of time to get the mask and her glasses to work together but after the first week or so there were no problems.

it’s most likely fine - forgive me if that doesn't reassure me overly.

Do you know what doesn’t reassure me? Anti-mask bullshitters trying to argue against basic safety measures in schools that most other countries seem to manage just fine with unevidenced and spurious ‘concerns’.

It's painful to see this sort of threads are still being started

Why? Are questions not allowed to be asked any more? Has free speech really gone that far down the drain? What an absolute tragedy.

Most countries have been doing this since last August, many for kids 6 and over, all day every day.

The kids are fine and their schools never closed for a day since the academic year began. No one has had long term health implications from wearing a mask. Teenagers aged 11 and over should have some basic o understanding of how to use a mask properly.

I’d say lockdowns and on and off school has more implications on kids than wearing a mask for a few hours at school.

There’s a nasty side effect called ‘mask mouth’ that will likely lead to increased rates of gum disease and cavities. Encourage your child to drink water and limit acidic foods during the school day.

@noblegiraffe

Do you know what doesn’t reassure me? Anti-mask bullshitters trying to argue against basic safety measures in schools that most other countries seem to manage just fine with unevidenced and spurious ‘concerns’.

Nowhere have I said I'm anti-mask. I wear a mask where mandated. However, I do feel that it is appropriate to be asking question when it comes to the long-term physical and mental health of my child.

Just because I am not blindly complying without questioning does not make me anti anything. Can you point me to any research at all that shows me that it a. makes a blind bit of difference to transmission levels (spoiler alert - you won't be able to do because it doesn't) and b. that it is healthy and necessary for a healthy child to be wearing one?

@MangoFeverDream

There’s a nasty side effect called ‘mask mouth’ that will likely lead to increased rates of gum disease and cavities. Encourage your child to drink water and limit acidic foods during the school day.

Were kids not encouraged to drink water and avoid acidic foods, before Covid started?

Clean mask each morning, anti-bac gel in blazer pocket and a chat (which every parent should already have had) about hand & mask hygiene.

Anything to get them back in school!

Yep, thought so OP. Just a genuine concern about long term health implications is now a demand for evidence that they work.

That’s how I know you’re anti mask. Spouting the same stuff that they all do.

Were kids not encouraged to drink water and avoid acidic foods, before Covid started?

The issue is that the masking leads to dry mouth which leads to gum disease and cavities. People also tend to drink less if they are wearing a mask so it’s important to drink more water than normal
and keep special attention on diet since a mask is unavoidable for now

"Can you point me to any research at all that shows me that it a. makes a blind bit of difference to transmission levels (spoiler alert - you won't be able to do because it doesn't) and b. that it is healthy and necessary for a healthy child to be wearing one?"

Can you point to any research at all that they cause bacterial pneumonia in school aged children?

Scaremongering of the highest order.

@noblegiraffe

Yep, thought so OP. Just a genuine concern about long term health implications is now a demand for evidence that they work.

That’s how I know you’re anti mask. Spouting the same stuff that they all do.

What are you talking about?

I do have a genuine concern about the health implications for children. I have given the mask situation limited thought up to now because I've only had to wear one in shops, I haven't had to wear one for 6 hours a day. So yes, I've been looking into it since the announcement on Monday and I can find nothing concrete to show me they work.

So yes, I have genuine concerns.

What is your agenda that you're so desperate to shut down the conversation?