9 out of 20 students in my class are apparently exempt from mask wearing

[Workyticket]

Taught them in a small room with a slit of a window for 1.5 hours

6 of those 9 had chosen not to take a lateral flow test because their Mum said they didn't have to

Schools and colleges are safe though. Apparently

@StepOutOfLine

The lack of scientific understanding from someone claiming to work in a highly specialised medical environment is very worrying. Not to say disgraceful. Have you thought about asking for extra training *@Vintagevixen*? Because it sounds like your scientific knowledge is worryingly lacking. Mind you, I don't expect you come out with your claptrap to your superiors at work.

It would be interesting though if you could provide links to your "theories".

Turning to the govt though, they've allowed this ridiculous state of affairs to happen. Apart from throwing teachers AND students to the lions, this total absence of ability to make a coherent rule says it all.

People all over MN (and presumably the country) are being allowed to self-identity as unable to wear a mask and nobody can ask them why.

Why is that? Do we not ask blue badge holders to present medical documentation before they're allowed one? Do we not ask children with other underlying pathologies to provide proof that they need to go to the loo more often/need a quiet space/need extra time for a test?

If we are now in a position where we can't ask people why they are not exempt from.protecting themselves and others from catching a disease that might kill them, then we might as well cancel all the above and more as well.

Which is an abhorrent insult to those who have GENUINELY had to fight for recognition of their rights.

No extra training needed thanks - I have worked in critical care for 25 years and been very senior in my role. Up until last year we were advising visitors with colds or illnesses not to bother to wear masks when visiting because there was no good evidence they did anything to prevent spread!

No change in the evidence since then apart from opinion that I can see.

as an asthmatic the biggest problem with wearing a mask is steaming of glasses (& yes I have read the advice but it doesn't work) & being extremely short sighted its a real issue -but it won't stop me wearing one.
Why? Because this virus is spread predominately by droplets not the air, masks help prevent cross infections (with distances & cleaning hands etc)

@toolatetofixate
Don't twist my words.
You know that my point is that blue badge holders have already been asked to demonstrate their needs.

@Vintagevixen

Have you received further training and recommendations since the outbreak of Covid? Or do you still tell people not to wear a mask?

Still waiting for your evidence btw. Because as we've seen, those people and reports named by you absolutely do not say what you claim they say.

@StepOutOfLine

Prof Melinda Mills the eminent sociologist whose study published in the journals is about compliance rather than the actual science? Or a different one?

Yes that's the one!

It was a meta analysis including behavioural aspects yes. So not an actual RCT or actual participant recruiting type study. She came down on the side of wearing actually, though did admit that evidence was weak. I read it, then went back to all the sources referenced and read them in the original form.

So I suppose a yes it was more about compliance than actual science.

To me the studies she used had lots of question marks in their methodologies etc so I couldn't personally agree with her.

Many healthcare professionals are testing their DC at home and not joining in the schools testing. it is actually safer and more reliable that way,
Call off the witch hunt

And interestingly one of the key takeaways from this peer reviewed article journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237691 is that adherence and compliance is the major issue with mask wearing being effective, not the actual science behind it.
So thanks @Vintagevixen for contributing to the increased risk for the rest of the children and adults in your dd's school.

Reading these comments, I'm really really glad not to be living in the UK. Little wonder it's so badly affected. Spain is too but not schools, funnily enough. And if schools stay open, we parents can work while our children learn and have a modicum of normality in their lives.

FFS wear masks, people, just fucking wear them and have your children do so too. It won't kill you, trust me, but covid just might so it's a no brainer.

@neverreachingtheend

Many healthcare professionals are testing their DC at home and not joining in the schools testing. it is actually safer and more reliable that way, Call off the witch hunt

If that was the case for the children in the OPs class, surely they would say that? Rather than mum says I don't have to

[quote StepOutOfLine]@Vintagevixen

Have you received further training and recommendations since the outbreak of Covid? Or do you still tell people not to wear a mask?

Still waiting for your evidence btw. Because as we've seen, those people and reports named by you absolutely do not say what you claim they say.[/quote]
Well we have to comply to local policies even if you don't agree with them. Obviously as an ITU nurse I mainly wear FFP3 as I do a lot of areosol generating procedures.

Still huge amounts of nosocomial outbreaks in hospitals and care homes despite mask wearing, they made up a huge percentage of infections over Dec/Jan and Feb.

Someone linked to the Danish study up thread and I have stated that I have no idea how to link on my Mac. You yourself are welcome to link to academic studies that proove mask wearing works for me to critique!

Either way,it's really none of your or anyone elses business. Nothing is risk free in this life. I'd suggest you worry more about your job that you'd probably recover fine from if you got it then worrying if a student is going to give you a virus they probably don't have.

Really? So I can do exactly as I like e.g. rob your home, cheat you out of your life-savings or kill you by speeding etc. After all, your life isn't 'risk-free' either.

@Andromache77

Reading these comments, I'm really really glad not to be living in the UK. Little wonder it's so badly affected. Spain is too but not schools, funnily enough. And if schools stay open, we parents can work while our children learn and have a modicum of normality in their lives.

FFS wear masks, people, just fucking wear them and have your children do so too. It won't kill you, trust me, but covid just might so it's a no brainer.

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

And another www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118
Mask wearing is effective when compliance is high.

So thanks Vintagevixen for contributing to the increased risk for the rest of the children and adults in your dd's school.

And for spreading misinformation about the effectiveness of mask wearing.

Unless she wants to clarify her comments about the Danish study which didn't look at whether masks effectively reduce transmission?

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

That shows an astonishingly poor level of comprehension.

I think you should be able to refuse to teach those without masks unless they produce a doctor's letter.

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

1. no one claims that you can't catch covid while wearing a mask.

2. people do not wear masks all the time.

@Evvyjb

My school (while REALLY difficult on other things, especially teacher workload) has taken this line since September - every SINGLE person in the school wears a mask. Absolutely no exceptions. If you cant then we have a small isolation centre where you can be beamed into lessons remotely. One student did that for a week and then decided they could wear a mask.

We have a specialised ASD centre on site, numerous students with severe PD, and 1500 students. They ALL wear a mask, they are all temp checked every day and on monday they all did their LFT simultaneously at the beginning of the day.

We have had relatively few cases. And 0 positives in that mass test.

Well then your school is not one where I would send my child. It’s also breaking the law.

Many teenagers have stayed at home for weeks so haven't had the opportunity to catch the virus. Plus I suspect that take up would have been higher if the testing wasn't at school. Nosebleeds, the possibility of gagging and puking... at least at home nobody will see that.

The mask wearing is different. I suspect the parents are dicks with U4T in their social media profiles. My kids say that they have never clamped down hard on masks even when it was just corridors and that there's a surprising number of maskless staff.

@MiddlesexGirl

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

That shows an astonishingly poor level of comprehension.

Go on then...

I think mumsnet is like an alternate universe. Real life doesn't function this way. I've been in midwife appointments during lockdown and the midwives have removed their masks. They looked clearly haggered and exhausted wearing them and each time said "I'm going to sit over here so I can take my mask off" before removing them. Keeping distance is far more effective at reducing the spread of anything than wearing a mask is. I had the same happen to me in A&E with a consultant removing his mask and pulling his chair a little farther away.

People throw on masks because they think they'll get into trouble if they don't. If you think they do anything more than make people feel better, you're mistaken.

Keep your distance and wash your hands.

@noblegiraffe

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

1. no one claims that you can't catch covid while wearing a mask.

2. people do not wear masks all the time.

Most people aren't wearing medical grade masks either.

Keeping distance is far more effective at reducing the spread of anything than wearing a mask is.

But you can't keep your distance in schools. Kids are sat right next to each other. Teachers can't keep 2m away from them either.

@noblegiraffe

The vast majority of people wear masks. That means the vast majority of people who have died have been wearing masks.

1. no one claims that you can't catch covid while wearing a mask.

2. people do not wear masks all the time.

I think we've just stumbled on the solution. Sew up everyone's mouths and nostrils! Need to sew up their eyelids too though...

Or, don't worry about who is and isn't wearing a mask. In fact maybe worry about most people who are wearing the same scabby one they pull out of a bag or pocket or glove compartment because they're scared of getting in trouble like a naughty child. But otherwise don't worry and just keep your distance and wash your hands.

The vast majority of people wear masks.

• the vast majority of people who wear masks don't wear them correctly unless you only hang out in hospitals where people know how to wear a mask.

But otherwise don't worry and just keep your distance and wash your hands.

How do you propose that teachers and children keep their distance in a small classroom with 30 of them in it?