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.

They’re wearing them for 3 weeks till Easter. A grip may be needed.

Surgeons wear masks for hours at a time and have done for years.

Not at all. I am more worried about the consequences of children not wearing them when they go back to school, then being sent back home again.

After all, we are months and months behind most countires. No issues there. Also, people wear masks rutinely in many East Asian countries also with no issues. Cannot see why it should be an issue here.

I can find nothing concrete to show me they work.

Funny that.

Here’s the evidence the decision was based on, published Monday.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963639/DfE_Evidence_summary_COVID-19_-_children__young_people_and_education_settings.pdf

@noblegiraffe

They’re wearing them for 3 weeks till Easter. A grip may be needed.

Oh that's great - thanks for the reassurance - you must have inside information? I believe they said that they would review it an Easter.

What does a grip entail exactly?

I'd still like to know your agenda. Why do you think it is a. useful b. effective and c. appropriate for all children to be masked all day?

@sylbunny

Surgeons wear masks for hours at a time and have done for years.

Surgeons wear them in a sterile environment and put them on with sterile hands.

My yr 7 DD has been wearing masks in school pretty much all the time Sept-Dec. She has three mask per day and changes them, putting the dirty ones in a bag to be put in the wash as soon as she gets home. Its not difficult really.

It doesn't matter what people think really or what the research actually shows. Its what we have to do to satisfy the unions to get DC back in school safely. Kids are not going to melt from wearing masks.

I’ve posted the evidence, Noodle that the decision making was based on.

As for ‘agenda’, well I’d quite like schools to be safer. You can tell that from my previous posts.

I don’t know what yours is because you appear to have no posting history.

Also, people wear masks rutinely in many East Asian countries also with no issues

They do not. Universal masking was not ever a thing in East Asia. I have lived there most of my adult life.

It’s not unusual to see someone in a mask, yes. But it’d be highly unusual to see someone in a mask if they didn’t have allergies, a cold or it was a bad air day.

[quote noblegiraffe]I can find nothing concrete to show me they work.

Funny that.

Here’s the evidence the decision was based on, published Monday.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963639/DfE_Evidence_summary_COVID-19_-_children__young_people_and_education_settings.pdf[/quote]
Basically says a "small impact" ranging from 7%. I can't see that is particularly helpful

It's not hard. There is plenty of choice in types of masks. They can even (shock horror) wear more than one mask in a day. Seems a fairly minor inconvenience to smooth the return to school really.

Oh and some science that explains why mask wearing works. www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8

Not another thread about this! Kids 6+ in France and Spain have been wearing masks since May when at school - all the time except when in the cantine. They manage fine.
Why should it be any different for British children?

Basically says a "small impact" ranging from 7%. I can't see that is particularly helpful

7% to 45%. Interesting that you couldn’t bring yourself to type the higher figure.

Lucky you OP. You’ve made it a year with only wearing a mask to the shops. Some of us haven’t had that luxury, and I assure you we’re all still alive and healthy, no bacterial pneumonia either.

Certain professions have to wear masks for 12-14h each day. I wear one for 2h on public transport each day, 5-6h at work and shopping trips. I’ve had to travel for work many times since the pandemic started and I’ve done several 10h flights with a mask on, it’s fine. My younger siblings in Spain put them on every time they walk out their front door. Including 7h of school and 2-3h of activities in the afternoon. Plus going for a walk or just to walk the dog. It’s fine. I was there in 40 degrees heat last summer, ran errands all around town with the mask on. Fine. Uncomfortable but fine.

Get off your high horse and join us in the real world, where people have been wearing masks for almost a year now and no one has died from it.

DS (6) and his primary school classmates have been wearing them all day at school (during lessons at a break time) since September with no problems. The schools hand out packs of disposable masks to every kid and they put on a clean one every morning and a new clean one after lunch. They are never taken off and put on desks or in pockets but are pulled down to eat and drink. Absolutely no issues whatsoever and very few kids have been ill with anything this year. Like various other things in life, parent attitudes are key. Tell your child wearing a mask is no big deal and can help reduce transmission and they won't have a problem wearing them. Tell your child masks are pointless and uncomfortable then they turn into first-class whingers and take every opportunity not to wear their mask properly.

Is this really your concern? Seriously? So what if they drop them? Put them back on. Big deal. At least they'll be wearing one. Better than .... not?

I don’t know what yours is because you appear to have no posting history.

Crikey, no and I won't be having one either if this is the level of engagement and open discussion on MN. Very interesting.

There is evidence that masks help prevent transmission
www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(21)00003-0/fulltext
And I’m pretty sure the experts in the WHO are more qualified to determine whether it’s an effective public health measure that most of the folk on this forum.
Health care workers wear masks for long periods of time in theatre and have done so for years with no evidence of long term side effects. I have worked in that setting and there is absolutely no choice about wearing one , and you have no idea how long you may have to wear it for. And you do it to protect patients. It really annoys me how precious some people are now being about having to wear masks for the greater good.

Children and teens need to be taught how to manage mask wearing properly, and told why it’s important. Of course many will be careless, but if just some of them manage it will reduce overall risk.

@Jemenfouscompletement

Not another thread about this! Kids 6+ in France and Spain have been wearing masks since May when at school - all the time except when in the cantine. They manage fine. Why should it be any different for British children?

Or they could be like Swedish kids and ditch the masks entirely 🤷‍♀️

prepare for lockdown four then-this country astgounds me-most euopean schools are mandatory for mask wearing but no we have to kick up a fuss

its not going to last kids will be out of school again come may

@UsedUpUsername how do our classrooms compare to Sweden's in terms of pupils and space?

I do agree OP that we need to educate the kids about the importance of mask hygiene. We've had masks in my school since September in all communal areas, we sent a letter to parents with some basics such as bring two masks to school and a separate bag to put used masks in, also to make sure hands are sanitised when putting on and removing. With the best will in the world this won't always happen but as parents we need to remind our DC of this before they return.

It's not hard and if it helps to keep kids in school which school staff do actually want, helps to keep pupils and school staff safe and prevents the shit show that was last term with constant isolations, which in my opinion, was worse for the kids then let's make the best of it. My Y11 DD didn't bat an eyelid when she heard.

Or they could be like Swedish kids and ditch the masks entirely

www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/keeping-schools-open-without-masks-or-quarantines-doubled-swedish-teachers-covid-19

I am concerned about the health implications of not wearing a mask in school.

All the things you cite OP re bad mask wearing are the parents job to supply or to educate.
Will this affect your own dc, or will you be downloading an exemption off the internet for them?