School still requiring masks in communal areas

[TheFuckThatIGave]

We've just had letters today from both ds's schools saying that following discussions amongst area heads, all secondaries in the area will still be requiring students to wear face masks in communal areas from Monday, exempt students aside. This is directly contrary to the DfE guidance this week. Anyone else had similar?

Ours isn't but I'd prefer if they were and I suspect that the considerable number of teachers still be vaccinated would feel the same. I have two kids at secondary and they'd both happily continue wearing them

[quote LadyPenelope68]@Feenie
There's a strange correlation here between people who want masks removed and those who can't fucking read.
Totally agree. The same people need to get back to school and educate themselves.[/quote]
Seems to be a strong correlation on here for people that are pro mask and resort to swearing in lieu of discussion or relevant data to show masks work in schools.

Damn fucking right!

Seems to be a strong correlation on here for people that are pro mask and resort to swearing in lieu of discussion or relevant data to show masks work in schools.

Masks work in schools in the same way as they work everywhere else.

When it is deemed that masks are not necessary anywhere, then they can be removed in schools. if it isn't yet time to stop wearing masks in public transport, shops and supermarkets, it isn't time to stop wearing them in schools.

If you wouldn't spend all day in an open plan office with 30+ unmasked people, with less than a metre between every desk, then you shouldn't expect anyone in school to do so either.

If masks are still necessary in shops, cinemas, workplaces, infact any indoor space, of course they’re needed in schools. There aren’t some magic doorways in schools that the virus has scared of you know! How the virus transmits is exactly the same as anywhere else you know.

@cantkeepawayforever

Seems to be a strong correlation on here for people that are pro mask and resort to swearing in lieu of discussion or relevant data to show masks work in schools.

Masks work in schools in the same way as they work everywhere else.

When it is deemed that masks are not necessary anywhere, then they can be removed in schools. if it isn't yet time to stop wearing masks in public transport, shops and supermarkets, it isn't time to stop wearing them in schools.

If you wouldn't spend all day in an open plan office with 30+ unmasked people, with less than a metre between every desk, then you shouldn't expect anyone in school to do so either.

So if that's the case why are we wearing them in each others gardens? Or in each others homes? Why arent primary children wearing them? Maybe because it's because children transmit less, or because they are less likely to become ill, or because they're not old or vulnerable, or because they have to wear them for 6 hours a day, or because there aren't any actual studies showing they reduce spread - in children - which take into account improper use and disposal?

Why arent primary children wearing them?

They are in most other countries.

@Feenie

Why arent primary children wearing them?

They are in most other countries.

How are those countries doing pandemic wise?

So if that's the case why are we wearing them in each others gardens?
Because those are outside. It has not been required to wear masks outside at any point in this pandemic, because all evidence shows that transmission in the open air is extremely low. Classrooms and school corridors are not outside. They are like shops, cinemas or offices, not like gardens.

Or in each others homes?
We are not allowed in each other's homes. Even where it has been allowed e.g. for care purposes, this has been for very small numbers of people at a time - usually 1:1. That is different from a teacher teaching 150 different pupils, each for an hour in close contact within a room, over the course of a single day.

Why arent primary children wearing them?
Tbh, I have no idea, other than that the government bowed to pressure from U4T and similar. Year 5 & 6 pupils, in particular, are entirely capable of doing so sensibly under supervision, and several of ours do so. The other point about primaries as opposed to secondaries is that is MUCH easier to keep in small fixed groups / 'bubbles'. My class of 30+, though obviously all close contacts of one another, do not come into contact with any other children inside and never use a corridor. In secondaries, with larger groups, different subjects and sets, specialist rooms etc, keeping groups of children separate is much more difficult.

Where’s this notion that masks are needed in workplaces? I don’t know anyone who wears a mask to work other than a nurse friend

We don’t wear masks in our office because we are only 2-3 to a large office space and are always way more than 2m away from each other.

Our workers on site wear masks whilst travelling together in a van & whilst in customers houses, or in a care home or prison or school or hospital. Anywhere they are near people.

People I know who work in retail, carpet fitters, takeaway food outlets, the person who came to measure up for my new furniture all wear masks at work.

Our local authority has decided to continue with the face masks in schools too. I’m glad to hear it because we have one of the highest rates in the country.

Depends on the area and risk.

Yes the DFE guidance was no masked and then the council told my daughters school they intend to continue masks. However, they are ignoring the council and going with the DFE

Same and I agree with them as we have Indian variant in our area.

Masks are not really needed in gardens, one assumes they are breezy ish

Children, vary in age. Secondary children are perhaps more likely to carry and react to covid in any adult way so maybe they should wear masks.

Mine does and it doesn't bother her.

@cantkeepawayforever

So if that's the case why are we wearing them in each others gardens? Because those are outside. It has not been required to wear masks outside at any point in this pandemic, because all evidence shows that transmission in the open air is extremely low. Classrooms and school corridors are not outside. They are like shops, cinemas or offices, not like gardens.

Or in each others homes?
We are not allowed in each other's homes. Even where it has been allowed e.g. for care purposes, this has been for very small numbers of people at a time - usually 1:1. That is different from a teacher teaching 150 different pupils, each for an hour in close contact within a room, over the course of a single day.

Why arent primary children wearing them?
Tbh, I have no idea, other than that the government bowed to pressure from U4T and similar. Year 5 & 6 pupils, in particular, are entirely capable of doing so sensibly under supervision, and several of ours do so. The other point about primaries as opposed to secondaries is that is MUCH easier to keep in small fixed groups / 'bubbles'. My class of 30+, though obviously all close contacts of one another, do not come into contact with any other children inside and never use a corridor. In secondaries, with larger groups, different subjects and sets, specialist rooms etc, keeping groups of children separate is much more difficult.

We will be allowed in each others homes in 48 hours time. I dont believe it has been mandated that we should wear masks?

@Puttingouthefirewithgasoline

Masks are not really needed in gardens, one assumes they are breezy ish

Children, vary in age. Secondary children are perhaps more likely to carry and react to covid in any adult way so maybe they should wear masks.

Mine does and it doesn't bother her.

I agree on the age thing - maybe it should be 16+ wear masks like adults and those below shouldnt.

We will be allowed in each others homes in 48 hours time. I dont believe it has been mandated that we should wear masks?

But numbers - and numbers of households - will still be limited.

A secondary teacher has indoors, non socially distanced contact with at least 150 children - and therefore their households - every single day

Ours sent a letter out saying the masks will remain both in class and communal areas until at least half term. They're reasoning is because our town of 360,000 residents has had a whole 2 cases of the indian variant (not sure how they got this variant info? 🤔)

@Watapalava

Where’s this notion that masks are needed in workplaces? I don’t know anyone who wears a mask to work other than a nurse friend

Is social distancing possible in their workplace?

It isn't in schools.

Socially distanced / screened / well ventilated etc - masks do not need to be worn.

Do you know anyone who works

@SpnBaby1967

Ours sent a letter out saying the masks will remain both in class and communal areas until at least half term. They're reasoning is because our town of 360,000 residents has had a whole 2 cases of the indian variant (not sure how they got this variant info? 🤔)

If the variant is 1.5x as transmissable (as the current estimate from Sages says), then unchecked that 2 will become really quite a lot by half term!

(Also bearing in mind that is 2 DETECTED cases. As the ONS data consistently shows, the actual number of people infected is many times the number of positive tests)

@SpnBaby1967

Ours sent a letter out saying the masks will remain both in class and communal areas until at least half term. They're reasoning is because our town of 360,000 residents has had a whole 2 cases of the indian variant (not sure how they got this variant info? 🤔)

Also - 2 weeks of wearing a mask vs higher transmission that could end up with more self-isolation and delay in lifting lockdown.

Are you SURE that saying that schoolchildren should do what they have been doing OK for weeks is SUCH an imposition? I know mine would FAR prefer mask wearing to the Covid hokey cokey of constant self-isolation; or future lockdowns

If people want to continue wearing masks that is fine but the government directive is that they are no longer mandatory in communal areas at school. This is a fact, schools should not be overriding the decisions, we live in a democratic society - we have lived too long with these regulations

However, twelly, it is also the law that the head of a school is responsible for the health and safety of all those within it. If a head judges, based on their risk assessment of the particular layout of the school, circumstances of the local area, advice of local public health etc that wearing of masks in communal areas is a proportionate mitigation of the risks to staff and students, then they MUST act.