It is no longer enforced by the Government for pupils to wear masks in English schools, which forms part of the Government's strategy of learning to live the virus. Although a proportion of schools have chosen to keep some mask requirements.
What Experts Say
Experts such as Mary Bousted, General Secretary of National Education Union are hesitant about these decisions, she has commented: "At a time when Covid infection levels are now 26 times what they were this time last year, it makes no sense to go back into school with so few safety measures”. Furthermore Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, remarked that the existing safety requirements are “not sufficient” to prevent a rise in Covid-19 cases.
These experts agree with the now mounting and considerable evidence that supports the effectiveness of masks for protecting against transmission between individuals. Laboratory experiments have also found that almost all types of masks can greatly reduce droplet emission and viral shedding by infectious wearers.
A recent study by researchers at Stanford Medicine and Yale University has now concluded wearing a surgical face mask over the mouth and nose is an effective way to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19 in community settings. Stephen Luby, MD, professor of medicine at Stanford explains: “We now have evidence from a randomized, controlled trial that mask promotion increases the use of face coverings and prevents the spread of COVID-19”
It is clear there is an issue within most school settings of lack of ventilation; as Government ministers have announced that all state schools will get CO2 monitors this term, at a cost of £25 million, to identify where ventilation needs to be improved. Safety measures to combat this lack of ventilation would surely be welcome, such wearing a mask indoors with a high filtration level, when social distancing isn’t possible.
Teachers are Worried
Teachers are also understandably nervous about the health implications for themselves and others when returning to school with the majority of safety measures withdrawn. Jack, 30, who teaches English at a large secondary school in London spoke to the Guadian Newspaper and said: ““Very little has been done to ensure Covid doesn’t spread,” he says. “I couldn’t believe it when students were told they no longer had to wear masks. The whole system is a farce. I’d be very surprised if this is a school year that is ‘normal’ again. Too many [Covid] cases, too few measures.”
If you are part of the teaching staff or a pupil returning to school and would like advice on what face mask is best to protect you, please call our team on 01749 938 160 or alternatively take a look at our face masks here