For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.
Principals say primary school communities can’t wait to get rid of face masks, but have accepted them as a necessity, as the Chief Health Officer moved to justify his recommendation to retain the mask mandate for children in grades 3 to 6.
Professor Brett Sutton confirmed it was his advice to retain masks for some primary school children and not high schoolers, mostly because of stalling vaccination rates, but said the mandate “won’t be forever”.
The government removed mask requirements for adults from Saturday, except in settings such as public transport, hospitals and for retail and hospitality workers.
Epidemiologist Fiona Russell, director of child and adolescent health at the University of Melbourne, questioned why Victoria was keeping mask mandates for some primary-school-aged children when other states were not.
NSW only ever recommended — not mandated — children in grades 6 and below wear masks. In Queensland, children under 12 were never bound by mask mandates. Like Victoria, those states have wound back mask requirements for older children. The ACT is keeping masks for children in grades 7 to 12.
“Children are at the least risk of severe illness … when there’s easing of restrictions, the restrictions should be eased in children first,” Professor Russell said, pointing out the rule could always be brought back if needed.
Tina King, president of the Australian Principal’s Federation, said the mask mandate was manageable even if it wasn’t ideal.
“We know masks are an inconvenience,” she said. “It can be frustrating, but our students, our staff, our communities have come to accept they are a necessity.
“We just want to get over these hurdles. In all honesty, we just want to get these masks off, but we’ll do that when it’s appropriate.”
Victorians under the age of 19 currently make up 41 per cent of all 42,016 active COVID-19 infections, mostly in the 10 to 19 age group, which has 9130 infections. Another 8140 children under the age of nine currently have COVID-19.
Professor Russell said the rates probably reflected that school children were being supplied with rapid antigen tests to use twice a week, and were therefore being tested more than anyone else.
Children aged five to 11 have been eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine since last month, and 54.5 per cent have had a single dose. That compares to 93.9 per cent of Victorians over the age of 12 who have had two doses.
Only 662 COVID vaccine doses were administered to children aged five to 11 on Tuesday, including 145 at state-run hubs.
Professor Sutton said on Wednesday there was strong evidence that masks reduced transmission.
“It’s for their direct protection in part, but also it just stops overall transmission or reduces overall transmission which protects all of us,” he told ABC radio.
Professor Sutton said cases were hovering around 7000 a day — 6926 new infections were recorded on Wednesday — and the Omicron variant had produced the highest death toll for Australia so far this pandemic.
“The evidence on masks is pretty clear,” he said. “I understand that not every kid will wear it properly, not every kid will be able to wear it.
“My three kids are in primary school. They’re doing a terrific job of wearing masks, but, yes, sometimes they’re chewing the straps or it’s on their chin. But overall, it’s going to be a downward pressure on transmission.”
Professor Sutton said the advice would be reviewed at the end of the school term in April. However, Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated that COVID-19 rules are constantly being reviewed.
Mask requirements do not have the support of the Legislative Council, where Labor’s balance of power has slipped. On Wednesday, the upper house carried an opposition motion seeking to have all mask mandates immediately removed. The request is unenforceable.
Premier Daniel Andrews said mandate did not extend to students in prep to grade 2 because of the impracticality of forcing younger children to wear masks.
Stay across the most crucial developments related to the pandemic with the Coronavirus Update. Sign up for the weekly newsletter.
Most Viewed in Politics
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
