Exempt children under 12 from wearing masks

Our children are in a situation where they can’t see their friends indoors. We are going into winter. The only fun activities our kids are likely to be able to do all winter will be indoors. How much fun will a visit to the science centre, the museum or ten pin bowling be for a 5 year old in a face mask for hours? Why are our kids the only kids in the U.K. to have to wear face masks? Is our science different? You acknowledge the lower risk of spreading the virus for young kids by allowing them not to social distance. Why then do they need to wear masks?

Why the contribution is important

Young children in face masks is heartbreaking. We shouldn’t be doing this to them.

by Spuddie79 on October 05, 2020 at 07:06PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.2
Based on: 38 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Sweetpeas04 October 05, 2020 at 19:16

    Facemasks on young children is having far to many mental health issues and negative impacts

  • Posted by Lharris12 October 05, 2020 at 19:19

    Totally agree, cases in children under 12 are minimal at best and they don’t appear to transmit covid so shouldn’t need to wear masks

  • Posted by Smartiesx5 October 05, 2020 at 19:24

    Children age 5+ are having to wear masks on unsupervised school buses. This is completely against the WHO guidance, young children should be supported by an adult when wearing, removing & disposing of a face mask.

  • Posted by PettedLip October 05, 2020 at 19:38

    Wholeheartedly agree. Children under 12 should be exempt

  • Posted by MITCHLA395 October 05, 2020 at 20:07

    This area of guidance is one I don't understand. If children don't need to socially distance under 12, what is the purpose of a mask. Unsure of long term issues with this.

  • Posted by Leonie123 October 05, 2020 at 20:19

    I completely agree, it would be wonderful if children under 12 were made exempt.

  • Posted by alileslie October 05, 2020 at 20:24

    Absolutely agree.

  • Posted by Avocado October 05, 2020 at 20:30

    Well put!

  • Posted by ammys83 October 05, 2020 at 21:11

    No child should have to wear a mask. And by child I mean under 16.

  • Posted by Coco12 October 05, 2020 at 21:41

    Totally agree! Besides adults can’t wear them properly so why do we expect kids too.

  • Posted by jakkyb7 October 05, 2020 at 21:47

    Agree whole heartedly. Children should NOT be wearing masks.

  • Posted by AlisonL October 05, 2020 at 23:09

    Totally agree. The science shows children under 12 rarely transmit Covid 19 therefore they don’t require to socially distance, why on earth are they supposed to wear a mask. I also don’t like the psychological effect it has on children either.

  • Posted by Bafo October 05, 2020 at 23:40

    There are no scientific evidence that children spread the virus in a different way compared to adults, while there are scientific papers showing how children also in primary schools can spread the virus in the community. Please read the attached paper about ability of children in primary schools to spread the virus and where they suggest children should wear a face mask. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e3.htm?s_cid=mm6937e3_w I really believe that the use of face masks should be compulsory also in primary school. Children live more than 5 hours each day in a room with more than 30 people where physical distancing is just not possible. The recent increase in numbers of positive cases in school is clearly stating that the decision to reopen the school with no physical distance and/or face masks coverings is a mistake and a way to put children, teachers, staff, families and ultimately the community at risk. Moreover with the winter season and all the similar to covid-19 symptoms increasing, the risk is that the testing system will be soon overwhelmed by the increasing requests. Children in other Countries wear face masks in school and they showed to be able to comply with the rules and quickly adapt to the new situation. It would be much worse if schools have to close again.

  • Posted by LeiaAvra October 06, 2020 at 06:09

    Absolutely agree

  • Posted by Marielle October 06, 2020 at 09:16

    There is sufficient evidence now to claim that children under 12 are not driving any clusters and are not main drivers of transmission. They should be exempt from masks in all settings.

  • Posted by Pipkins October 10, 2020 at 10:49

    In answer to a couple of questions above: How much fun will a visit to the science centre, the museum or ten pin bowling be for a 5 year old in a face mask for hours? Children seem to be more adaptable to adults when it comes to masks. It's pretty good that children are now able to do these activities while in the middle of a pandemic that has killed 10s of thousands in the UK. If masks allow children to experience more normality while protecting themselves and others then surely they are a good thing? Why are our kids the only kids in the U.K. to have to wear face masks? Is our science different? It might not be so useful just to compare Scotland with the rest of the UK. The UK government's handling of Covid has been under a lot of criticism and generally regarding as very bad. Better to compare to countries with better records on Covid. In Asia for example even some nursery aged children are wearing masks. And certainly all primary children are wearing masks in schools in countries such as Japan. Worth noting that the death toll in Japan is around 1,500 in a population of 130 million. Compare that 42,000 dead in the UK in a population of half the size. Not just because of masks but likely to be a factor. We know much more about the benefits of masks compared to the start of the pandemic. The university of Edinburgh published research recently showing how much benefit they are indoors, even more so than social distancing. And in terms of the risk of children spreading Covid, again more and more research is showing children do spread Covid. There have been studies in Korea and more recently India showing significant transmission in children.

  • Posted by Nghtshd3 October 11, 2020 at 15:45

    Every abled person should be wearing a MASK. REGARDLESS of age! My gran with COPD hates the masks but she knows she has to wear it to protect herself. Stop twisting and use your common sense.
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