Tag Archives: masks

Free Friday?

Yes, but how free?

FIGHT!

Earlier: New Norma

Meanwhile…

‘Stand down’?

Minister for Education Norma Foley

This morning.

Via RTÉ News

Children in third class and up will be required to wear face masks at school from this morning, and can be refused entry if they do not.

However, the Department of Education has said schools can be flexible in application of the rule in the first couple of days.

Ms Foley said she recognised it may be “difficult” for some, but added: “Schools know their children and are best placed to identify those children whose complex needs are such that the wearing of face coverings may not be possible for them and to discuss this with parents as required.”

Foley: Schools will adopt ‘practical approach’ to mask wearing (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Meanwhile…

Um.

Last night.

CC writes:

OK, enough is enough. I was in my favourite local takeaway. These guys came in twice without masks. No bleeding effort at all and when I made my discomfort known to them, they chased me down the street shouting at me. How, when everyone else is making an effort to keep everyone else safe, can this happen? Who do they work for? The level of aggression scared me.

Earlier: Not In My Name

This morning.

The cabinet is to meet later to discuss new NPHET guidelines….

The recommendation under discussion aims to cut down on children mixing but the advice appears to be more subtle than the initial recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team last week.

Those familiar with the memo going to Cabinet said it could mean a play-date might be an option or a trip to the panto, but not both.

Mask wearing from third class upwards will be among the measures discussed this morning…

Meanwhile…

There will also be proposals around international travel with an antigen test set to be required by all people arriving here.

This would need to be completed a maximum of 72 hours before arriving in the country and there are indications that the antigen test system will be professionally administered.

The Cabinet will also examine legislation that would allow for the re-introduction of mandatory hotel quarantine.

Masks for schoolchildren nine and over set to be recommended (irish Times)

Ombudsman urges Govt to quickly assess impact of Covid rules on children

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Nphet has recommended to the Government that children aged nine or over should wear face masks in school.

From our reading of recent reports by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Health Information and Quality Authority, it appears that both the ECDC and Hiqa consider mask wearing in this age group (the under 12s) in the school setting to be of limited benefit.

As both parents and healthcare professionals, we question Nphet’s recommendation, which we consider is not evidence based and lacks guidelines or metrics that will determine its discontinuation.

We fear that the introduction of mandatory face masks could have a profound negative impact on the emotional, social and academic development of these young children.

Dr Nikki O’Keefe and Dr Ciaran Healy,

Ranelagh, Dublin 6

Irish Times Letters

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Prime Time on RTÉ One.

TCD immunologist Cliona O’Farrelly supporting the National Public Health Emergency Team’s recommendation that primary school children from third class upwards must wear masks.

NPHET recommends that children aged nine and over wear masks on public transport, as well as in retail and other public settings where the rule currently applies for those aged 13 and over.

Meanwhile…

I was utterly dismayed to read that the National Public Health Emergency Team will discuss masks for primary-school children next week.

Government guidelines on how to wear a mask includes, inter alia, the following: always wash your hands before putting on your face covering; avoid touching it while you are wearing it; if you accidently touch the front, wash your hands straight away.

These guidelines are there for good reason. Touching a germ-riddled mask with your hands is not a good idea.

Most adults are not capable of complying with these guidelines. I really don’t understand how Nphet might expect our young children to follow these guidelines over the course of a six- or seven-hour school day.

In addition to applying the science, in this particular instance I would urge Nphet (and the Government) to apply some cop on.

Reamonn O’Luan

Churchtown,

Irish Times Letters

Meanwhile…

Professor Mary Horgan, President of the Royal College of Physicians says it may be time to mask primary school children

This morning.

The National Public Health Emergency Team meets today and is expected to consider proposals around increased mask wearing at outdoor events and possibly in primary schools.

Via RTÉ News:

President of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland Professor Mary Horgan said avoiding lockdown would be the right way to go but that the situation has to be watched very closely.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Prof Horgan said it may be time to consider the use of masks in primary school.

Prof Horgan, a member of NPHET, said the incidence of infection in primary school has been high over the last few months and this is probably because the group is unvaccinated and do not use masks.

It is likey that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will recommend vaccinating this age group and that vaccine, combined with mask wearing, would reduce infection.

However, she acknowledged it is difficult for younger children to wear masks.

Um.

NPHET expected to consider increased mask wearing proposals (RTÉ)

RollingNews

“I hope y’all go to jail.”

Via The Free Press:

A Florida second grader who has been suspended 38 times for refusing to wear a mask to school confronted her local school board — and asserted that they should be in jail.

Fiona Lashells, who just turned 8 years old, told the Tampa Bay school board in no uncertain terms how she felt about their rules.

She is “on a mission to take back, not only her rights but every American child’s constitutional rights from the tyrant school board,” her mother, Bailey Lashells, told The Free Press.

Previously: The Mask Of Sorrow

Minister for Health Stepehen Donnelly arrives at Dublin Castle this morning

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Meanwhile…

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has hinted face masks may remain as part of “sector specific measures” past October 22, and not just for public transport, shops and hospitals.

Despite Cabinet ministers signing off earlier this year on masks only remaining in those settings, Mr Donnelly opened the door to masks remaining in other situations as part of “sector specific measures”.

“The intention is that there will be continuing requirements in relation to mask wearing in a range of settings including healthcare settings, indoor retail and on public transport,” he said.

“Face masks may also continue to be needed to be worn in certain environments as part of sector specific measures to ensure a safe environment.”

Donnelly hints face masks may remain as part of ‘sector specific measures’ (Independent.ie)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

This morning.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) review of the current minimum age for compulsory mask-wearing is now completed and up for consideration at the next meeting of Nphet.

The current minimum age is 13.

Via Mary McCarthy in Independent.ie:

If a review recommends primary children should start wearing masks, it will be a big step backwards from providing our kids with the normal school environment they need and deserve after so much upheaval.

My kids went back yesterday, the youngest starting for the first time, and it was a pure joy to see them bounce around with excitement, reunited with their pals while the junior infants eyed each other up nervously.

The relief when they spotted someone they already knew from creche or the park and the nervous little faces of those who recognised nobody, their hand clamped in the safety of their parent’s.

Don’t make the under-12s wear masks – our children have already paid a high price during the coronavirus pandemic (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Students walk out of Douglas County Schools protesting mask mandate (Highland Ranch Herald)

RollingNews